The devastating fire that engulfed TRP game zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot has claimed lives of at least 27 people, including the co-owner of the establishment, Prakash Hiran, against whom the police had registered the FIR.
Prakash’s death was confirmed after his brother, Jitendra Hiran, reported him missing, saying he was inside the gaming zone when the fire broke out. Following the report, the police took DNA samples from their mother and confirmed that he was indeed killed in the fire.
Several bodies were burnt beyond recognition and the cops used DNA tests to identify the bodies. Samples were taken from the remains found at the fire scene and was matched with the DNA of Prakash's mother, which confirmed his death.
The fire at game zone broke out on May 25, claiming at least 27 lives, including nine children, some of whom were reportedly below 12 years.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the gaming zone was operating without the necessary fire safety clearance from the municipal authorities.
Prakash owned 60% of the gaming zone, and was a partner in Raceway Enterprises. He was named as an accused in the First Information Report (FIR) with other five, which included Dhaval Thakkar, the main accused and the owner of Dhaval Enterprises; and partners of Raceway Enterprises Ashoksinh Jadeja, Kiritsinh Jadeja, Yuvrajsinh Solanki, and Rahul Rathod. They all ran the game zone where the fire happened.
The police have arrested Yuvrajsinh Solanki and Rahul Rathod, partners in the Raceway Enterprises, and game zone manager Nitin Jain in the case along with the key accused Dhaval Thakkar.
Thakkar, who was on the run after the incident and was arrested from Rajasthan where he had been hiding at his relative's house.
Meanwhile, Yuvrajsinh Solanki, Nitin Jain and Rahul Rathod have been sent to two weeks of police custody.
They have been booked under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 337 (causing hurt by an act that endangers the life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt to a person by doing an act that endangers their life or personal safety) and 114 (someone present when the offence is committed).
Earlier, the Gujarat High Court took suo motu cognizance of the tragedy and asked the state government as well as the Rajkot, Surat and Ahmedabad municipalities to submit a report on the functioning of gaming centers in these cities.
Apart from the arrests six officials, including two cops and three civic body officials have been suspended for "gross negligence".
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has announced aid of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
