The Delhi police on Sunday arrested Manoj Jain, owner of an unauthorised fireworks factory after 17 persons — 10 women and seven men — were killed on Saturday in a massive fire in the manufacturing unit in Delhi's Bawana industrial area.
The Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik also transferred the case from the Rohini district police to the crime branch.
According to the police, the factory manufactured “cold firecrackers” used in stage shows and Holi celebrations. Wrappers printed with ‘ Holi ke Dhamake’ were found in the factory, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Rajneesh Gupta.
“Of 17 bodies, 14 have been handed over to their family members after the post-mortem; three bodies remain unidentified. We are conducting a thorough investigation to trace the family members of unidentified victims. We have also set up a desk at the Baba Saheb Ambedkar (BSA) Hospital to assist relatives of the deceased,” Mr. Gupta said.
Factory owner Manoj Jain, 49, was arrested from his house in Tri Nagar late on Saturday and booked under sections 285 (Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 ( Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC and under the Explosives Act.. Jain had rented the factory from January 1, the DCP said.
“He was produced before the duty magistrate today who sent him to judicial custody. The police will request for production and police custody tomorrow before the regular magistrate,” the police statement said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, “Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of negligence, even if it is a government official,” he said. Mr Jain accompanied Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who met families of the fire victims at the BSA hospital.
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken visited the site of fire in Bawana on Sunday and demanded a judicial probe. Speaking to reportes, he said the incident exposed the “shortcomings” of the Delhi government’s various departments, apart from the “incompetence” of the civic body concerned in granting licences to such units.
The Centre for Indian Trade Union (CITU) called for an independent and time-bound inquiry into the incident, covering not only the causes of the fire and the safety measures in the unit, but also the role of the labour department and its officials.
(With inputs from PTI)
