Collectorate CCTV examination kicks up new controversy

KOLLAM: The need for examination of footages from the CCTV installed at Kollam Collector’s chamber, in connection with Paravur Puttingal fireworks tragedy, has triggered a new controversy. The footages are expected to be important evidence in the case.

Five days ago, the Crime branch, investigating the case had given a letter to the collector A Shainamol in this connection. But now there are conflicting reports that the collector has given and not given the answer.  Now the latest news is that the Collectors had given the reply the she would not be able to handover the footages as the CCTV in her chamber had not been functioning for the past six months.

The collector banned the fireworks after Pankajakshi Amma, an old woman residing nearing the temple, had complained against the competitive fireworks. The temple officials who are now in the police custody, confessed that they had met collector to request her to revoke the ban. They said that they met collector at her chamber on April 8 and she told them that she would revoke the ban if the City police Commissioner gave the green signal. Following this they got the City police commissioner’s nod and conducted the fireworks. It was to confirm the above revelation that the Crime branch asked for the CCTV footages from the Collector.

Meanwhile Crime Branch S P Sreedharan said the department was expecting the Collector’s reply and the reports that she had already given the reply was false.  

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