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NT Bureau
Villupuram, Apr 10:
 

        Sendur, the hitherto a remote village near Tindivanam, has been witnessing a steady flow of self-important politicians, police officials and senior government officers in the aftermath of the powerful explosion which claimed 17 lives and left 50 injured Saturday.

        Senior officials of the Explosives Control Department rushed to the village yesterday and inspected the godown from which the explosives were transported. Also, Tamilnadu West Zone IG Radhakrishnan along with police officers conducted a thorough investigation at Sendur village.

        Meanwhile G Sekar, the dealer from whose godown the explosives were transported, was remanded to 15-day police custody. He was later lodged at Cuddalore Central Prison.

        Sekar, a native of Manalipattu in Puducherry, from whose godown in Padharipudur in Villupuram district the ill-fated consignment of explosives were being transported and who had been absconding since Saturday, surfaced in Vellore. Accompanied by his lawyer Subbarayulu, Sekar surrendered before Judicial Magistrate Ramachandran, who remanded him to police custody till 23 April.

        Later talking to media persons, Tamilnadu West Zone IG Radhakrishnan, said, the identity of the all those who perished in the explosion have been made. The bodies have been handed over to the relatives.

        Officials of the Revenue, Fire and Rescue department and the local Thashildar will examine the godown and submit a detailed report to the detailed report on the safety of the godown to the District Collector. Only then licences would be provided for the godowns to house explosives. The role of the police is merely to conduct periodic checks, he said,.

        Investigations are on to find out whether these explosives were transported with prior permission, he added.

        Sekar, who has been remanded to police custody will be questioned. A couple of cases for smuggling arrack is pending against him. We have recommended for cancelling license to his godown, Radhakrishnan said.

        It may be recalled that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi yesterday announced in the Assembly that a senior IAS official would probe into the blast case and assured government jobs to the family members of the 17 victims.

        He further said that a committee would be formed comprising Villupuram District Collector and leaders of political parties to give recommendations on various means to help the families of the deceased. He announced that the government would adopt the families who lost their breadwinners.