The Nileshwar police have registered cases against eight people in the Anjootambalam Veererkavu fire accident. The accused in the list as per the First Information Report (FIR) are Chandrasekharan, Bharathan, AV Bhaskaran, Thamban, Chandran, Babu, Rajesh and Sasi.

They are all from Nileshwar village, Kasaragod and are members of the temple committee. Police had earlier detained two members of the temple committee after a firecracker explosion during the temple festival left 154 people injured. A preliminary information report revealed that the crackers burst at a distance of 2 meters from the warehouse.

According to the FIR, the accused set off firecrackers without following safety norms and guidelines and did not obtain a permit and license, which led to a fire breaking out in the house, causing serious and minor injuries to over 100 people and damage to the building. DySP Babu Peringeth will investigate the case.

Police laid charges under Sections 288, 125(a), 125(b), 3(5) of the NBS, 3(a), 6 of the Explosive Substances Act which relate to negligent handling of an explosive substance, an act which endangering the life or personal safety of others, acts performed imprudently or negligently endangering human life or personal safety, and acts performed by several persons in order to achieve a common intention.

The crackers allegedly burst near the warehouse, ignoring repeated warnings from some onlookers. Residents said firecrackers are usually burst at a safe distance from the warehouse in a space behind the building, however, this time the firecrackers were burst close to the shed which led to the explosion.