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Administrative failure in Meerut: Ajit

Meerut organisations file petition seeking murder case against senior officials and fair organisers

Lucknow: Describing the fire in Meerut as an ``administrative failure'', the ruling Samajwadi Party's alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Dal on Friday said transfer of officials was ``not a punishment'' and demanded their suspension and filing of FIRs against them.

The fire at the Brand India consumer goods exhibition at Victoria Park in Meerut, ``was a failure of the administration as norms and regulations were not followed,'' RLD chief Ajit Singh told reporters in Lucknow.

He claimed that the casualties were much higher than the official figure and according to eyewitnesses was between 400-500. He condemned the reported use of bulldozers at the site as it ``appeared to be an attempt to hide evidence''.

The guilty officials should be suspended and proceeded against after filing of FIRs against them, he said.

Mr. Singh said he had spoken to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and a judicial inquiry had been ordered into the incident but refused to divulge details.

The State Government should decide the points of the judicial probe and take into account ``the people's aspirations'', Congress general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs Ashok Gehlot said in Meerut.

He said the use of JVC earth movers for clearing the bodies of those who perished in fire was ``unjustified''.

UPCC president Salman Khursheed announced rewards for those who had shown exemplary bravery in saving the lives of others at the cost of their own.

BSP Lok Sabha member and former Meerut Mayor Sahid Ashlaq has meanwhile demanded a CBI probe into the fire, saying a judicial inquiry would be too long drawn-out.

He said the BSP would raise the issue in the reconvened Budget Session of Parliament and alleged that the State Government was not interested in independent probe as the recommendations of judicial inquiries were not implemented in letter and spirit.

MEERUT: Local organisations here filed a petition seeking lodging of murder case against 11 people, including senior district officials and the organisers of the fair in connection with the Victoria Park fire.

The petition, filed in the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge (II) Rajesh Kumar, by the All India Lawyers Union and the Hindu Yuvak Mahasabha, seeks prosecution of senior officials including then District Magistrate Ram Krishan and Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Sabbharwal and the organisers of the fair.

It claims that the use of bulldozers at the site later that night was not only intended to destroy evidence but district authorities had removed bodies of the victims as well as the injured out of the rubble and hidden them.

Admitting the petition, the court has directed the Station House Officer of the Civil Lines Police Station to submit a report and fixed Saturday as the next date of hearing.

Meanwhile, the new Meerut police chief has directed the force to exercise restraint while controlling public anger and told the SHOs of the city to trace the missing victims.

Forensic team's visit

A forensic team visited the accident site to examine the debris, SSP Navneet Sikera told media persons. The team, led by Dr Ram, Assistant Director, Agra Forensic Science Laboratory, would submit its report on Saturday.

Mr Sikera, who held a late night meeting with police officers on Thursday, accepted that the police image had taken a beating for the manner it controlled the angry protestors after the fire. ``The officials and personnel must now collectively win over the trust of the affected by taking up the search for the missing ``as a mission,'' he said.

All the Station House Officers have been assigned the responsibility to search for people who went missing during the fire. Orders have also been given against unnecessary use of force, keeping in mind the situation following the fire, he added.

Order on fire safety

In the wake of the Meerut tragedy, the Uttar Pradesh Government directed district authorities to ensure compliance of necessary fire security measures during public functions.

State's Principal Secretary (Home) Satish Chandra Agarwal directed all district authorities to ensure compliance of fire security measures and take strict action against the organisers flouting the norms.

``It has come to light that cultural programmes, exhibitions, trade fairs and other such programmes are being staged without caring for the security of the life and property and this is a serious matter,'' he said, adding that all-out efforts should be made for effective steps through the fire department to ensure strict compliance of security norms. - PTI, UNI

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