Cops,authorities pass the buck,SO suspended

While the Station Officer (SO) of Mau Aima has been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty,the authorities maintained there was not much that could be done.

District Magistrate (Allahabad),Alok Kumar,said the SO of Mau Aima,Lal Ram Verma,has been suspended. “It was prima facie his responsibility. Moreover,the illegal activity was going on within a km of the police station,” said Kumar.

When asked about the role of the licence-issuing authorities in ensuring the conditions are not violated,Kumar said the Sub-Divisional Magistrates and the Circle Officers are supposed to carry out checks every year,as these licences – for sale of crackers – are issued every year. “But,the SO should have information about such activities,” said Kumar.

He added the administration was trying to identify places in the city where such activities were going on and put a stop to them. “It is only now that we have come to know that such activities may be going on at more than one place in the area,” said Kumar.

Police sources,however,said it was not possible that licence-issuing authorities were not aware of its alleged misuse.

Many in the city and its surrounding areas were well aware that crackers are manufactured here and orders can be placed in this regard,said a police officer.

When contacted,SP (Trans-Ganga),J P Pandey,said,“The possibility of explosives being stored in other houses cannot be ruled out. Many residents have fled the place fearing arrests. We had conducted a raid on Wednesday and are investigating further,” said Pandey.

Seven persons,mostly women and young men,were killed and 12 people were injured when the building in which the unit was being run collapsed under the impact of the explosion.

“One of the accused,in whose name the licence was issued,was injured. Hunt is on for the other two accused,the owner of the building and the husband of the licencee,” said Pandey.