Owner of Bawana firecracker storage unit held after fire kills 17 people

Police outside the firecracker factory. Pic/PTI

Police have arrested the owner of the firecracker storage unit in Bawana where 17 people were killed in a massive blaze on Saturday. Manoj Jain, who ran the factory, has been arrested. A probe revealed it was a factory of "cold firecrackers" used in stage shows and Holi celebrations, said Rajneesh Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini). Firecracker packages found at the site suggest the same, he said.

Jain had rented the factory from January 1, the DCP said. Seven of those killed were identified as Baby Devi, 40, Afshana, 35, Sonam, 23, Reeta, 18, Nadeen, 55, Rakho, 65, and Dharma Devi, 45, he said. An FIR was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible material.

17 No of people killed in the fire

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