Minor fire in Kerala Secretariat triggers political row

A fire at the Kerala secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram caused a huge commotion on Tuesday evening. The fire described as minor triggered opposition protests and allegations of a link to the gold smuggling case.

While the state government said that ADGP Manoj Abraham will probe the incident, state minister EP Jayarajan alleged that commotion is caused by the Opposition.

The fire broke out on the second floor in a section of the secretariat housing the state protocol office, which has been under the scanner of the NIA and other central agencies probing the smuggling of gold through diplomatic cargo.

The opposition Congress-led UDF in the state has alleged attempts to sabotage the investigation into the gold smuggling case.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and other congress leaders met the Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan today and demanded an independent probe into the incident.

Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta told reporters that no crucial file had been destroyed and there would be a detailed investigation