In the wake of the Kollam temple tragedy, Kerala Home Secretary Nalini Netto on Friday morning spoke to CM Oommen Chandy saying she was dissatisfied about her recommendations not being carried out by the government.
Netto had mentioned in her report that police disregarded intelligence information about a fireworks contest being organized in the temple and had recommended action against police officers, including Kollam city police commissioner P Prakash, Chattannoor SP and Paravur CI.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has however denied any shortcoming on the part of the government.
The home secretary also expressed her displeasure with the government for handing over her report on the temple accident to DGP Senkumar.
"The DGP's position is much lower than that of mine. I had considered DGP's report while making mine, then why was it sent to him?” she questioned.
Chennithala had asked for an explanation from the DGP after taking the home secretary’s report into account.
The DGP denied the allegations and pointed fingers at the district administration for not informing the public that permission for the fireworks event was not granted.
This whole episode is a fallout of the differences between District Collector Shaianmol and Kollam City Police Commissioner P Prakash.
A day after the Kerala temple tragedy, conflicting versions of events from the police commissioner and the district collector had emerged, sparking a controversy between the police and the district administration.
The controversy erupted after Kollam city police commissioner P Prakash on Monday said that the police was ‘misinformed’ about the event. He said that the police were of the understanding that the organizers had a verbal permission from the district authorities.
Reacting to this, the District Collector A Shainamol termed the Kollam City Police Commissioner P Prakash’s claim as ‘immature’.
The collector had submitted a report to Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash blaming the police for not adhering to the additional district magistrate’s order, denying permission for the fireworks display.
At least 108 people have lost their lives and nearly 400 injured due to the massive fire that broke out at Paravur’s Puttingal temple at Kollam in Kerala in the wee hours of Sunday.