Apr 16 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai)

HIGH-LEVEL POLICE PROBE HINTS AT SABOTAGE - Nine scrap dealers held for Deonar blazes

Ahmed Ali
Mumbai:


The Deonar police on Friday evening arrested nine scrap dealers for the January 28 and March 20 blazes at the dumping ground at Deonar.
Sources said that a probe headed by additional commissioner of police (east region) Manoj Lohiya prima facie found that they were not accidental but the handiwork of the scrap dealers.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had in February , after the January 28 fire, ordered a high-level probe by the additional commissioner of police. The police said Lohiya's probe had hinted at sabotage.

The scrap dealers who do not have any licence or authority to conduct business used to send minor children to collect scrap, the police said. The nine dealers have their shopsgodowns adjoining the dumping ground compound wall. The police said the dealers, who will be produced before court on Saturday , have been booked under various sections for negligence, causing damage to public property , mischief by fire and act to hurt somebody under the Indian Penal Code.

The children, on orders from their employers, used to light fires so that the garbage burns, and it used to get easy for them to pick up leftover metal,“ said a police officer. Deputy commissioner of police (zone VI) Sangramsingh Nishandar confirmed the arrests.

The scrap dealers' names cropped up during inquiries and recording of statements of several independent witnesses.

Sources said that the dealers will be interrogated about who sent the children to light the fire on March 20 at the Deonar dumping ground. The fire started around 10am, by afternoon, thick smoke covered areas like Rafiq Nagar and Baba Nagar adjoining the dump, and it moved towards Navi Mumbai.By March 21 morning, smoke had rea ched Wadala, though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it had brought the fire under control to an extent around 4.30am. Fresh flames were reported once again on the evening of March 21.

Earlier on January 28, at 3am, a fire broke out at the dumping ground. The smoke in nearby areas forced schools to remain shut. The fire was finally extinguished on February 5.

The fire had led to health hazards for residents and there was an increase in air pollution.

Fire-fighters were deployed at the spot till April 2. The BMC had filed an FIR against unknown persons, suspecting sabotage. Cooling operations continue at the dump yard.