The manager and deputy manager of the burnt warehouse of fast food giant Wow Momo in Kolkata’s Anandapur have been arrested. Police apprehended them from Narendrapur on Thursday night during a raid. Narendrapur police have arrested the warehouse Manager, Manoranjan Sheet, and Deputy Manager, Raja Chakraborty. Police are investigating their whereabouts and roles when the fire broke out at the warehouse early on January 26. Investigators may seek their custody for questioning.
Police had previously arrested the owner of the decorator agency. Now, two officials of the food giant have been arrested. The warehouse manager and deputy manager have been subjected to preliminary questioning. Both will be produced before the Baruipur Sub-Divisional Court today, Friday. The police will appeal to the court seeking their custody for further interrogation.
Following the incident in the early hours of Monday, the owner of the premises and the decorator company, Gangadhar Das, was arrested from Elachi in Narendrapur on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he was produced before the Baruipur court and taken into police custody. He will be produced again in court on February 4. Before that, the police are trying to gather various information about the factory and warehouse by questioning the owner. Who was in charge of the factory and warehouse on the day of the incident?
Section 163 of BNSS imposed
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been imposed at the incident site in Nazirabad since Wednesday night. It will remain in effect until March 30.
Anandapur fire death toll rises to 25, NHRC takes suo motu cognizance
Meanwhile, the death toll in the Anandapur warehouse fire reached 25 on Friday morning, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognisance of the matter and directed the District Magistrate concerned to submit an action taken report at the earliest. The NHRC acted in the matter following a complaint alleging gross human rights violations at the Wow Momo warehouse at Anandapur.
In a statement sent from the NHRC to the District Magistrate of South 24 Parganas district, the Commission has stated that the complaint attributed the mishap to criminal negligence by the management of said company as well as regulatory failures on the part of the state fire services and labour departments, urban planning authorities, and local administration.
In the communique, the NHRC has also highlighted gross violations of provisions under the Factories Act and Disaster Management Act. “The allegations made in the complaint prima facie seem to be violations of the human rights of the victims,” read the statement.
Anandapur fire: How so many people died?
In the Anandapur warehouse fire on January 26, several bodies were charred beyond recognition, delaying identification and necessitating DNA tests. Rescue, recovery and debris-clearing operations are ongoing under tight security. To maintain law and order and ensure uninterrupted rescue and investigative work, prohibitory orders under Section 163 have been imposed in the area surrounding the fire-hit site. Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court allowed a BJP protest rally with conditions.
Two warehouses in the Nazirabad area of Anandapur caught fire in quick succession. The owner of the second warehouse, Gangadhar Das, has already been arrested. It is believed that the fire spread from that warehouse to the Wow Momo warehouse. Workers on the night shift were trapped inside. At least 25 people have died in the twin warehouse fire. DNA mapping has begun to identify the deceased. 28 people are still listed as missing by the police.
Five days have passed since the fire at the Momo factory and warehouse in Anandapur. Body parts are being recovered one after another from the burnt-out building. Four more body parts have been recovered from the debris. A total of 25 body parts have been recovered so far.
Was the warehouse door locked from outside?
It has been initially learned that the godown and warehouse doors were locked from the outside on the night of the fire. After the fire broke out, the workers inside desperately tried to get out. But because the doors were locked, they were burned alive. After the fire started, some workers reportedly informed their family members via mobile phones, apprehending that they might die soon as they are trapped inside. Why were the factory doors locked from the outside with the workers inside? Why this inhumane behaviour? These questions have already been raised. How many people were inside the factory that night?
Wow Momo issues statement announcing compensation
In this situation, Wow Momo issued a statement saying that two of their employees and one contracted security guard had died. The company announced that it would provide compensation of Rs 10 lakhs each to the families of the three deceased and a lifetime monthly salary. However, questions were raised as to why the police were not arresting anyone responsible for the warehouse. On Thursday night, the warehouse manager and deputy manager were arrested.
An investigation is underway to determine if there was any negligence on the part of the authorities and what kind of fire safety arrangements were in place at the warehouse. Wow Momo authorities have assured their cooperation with the investigators.
Opposition BJP alleges administrative negligence
The BJP has raised allegations of administrative negligence in the Anandapur incident. Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has strongly condemned the incident. A procession led by Adhikari will march from Dhalai Bridge to Kamalagazi More and submit a deputation to the police station.
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