MUMBAI, July 17: The Bhandup police has arrested the private land owner of Milind and Tulsi Nagar, Vijaykumar Lalji Prasad Jha (44), for criminal negligence in connection with Friday morning's landslide that claimed seven lives.Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 6) R M Kedari informed The Indian Express on Saturday that Jha was arrested late Friday night after the local residents complained that Jha had failed to build a protective wall at Marod Hill, which borders the hutments on one side, despite repeated requests. Jha has the power of attorney over the Bhandup land which is spread across 2,000 square yards, from his mother. He was arrested under Section 304 (a), 337 and 338 for criminal negligence and causing grievous injuries," informed DCP Kedari.He has been remanded to police custody till July 21. The landslide had destroyed four huts on Marod Hill and killed seven residents on the spot.It is reported that since it was a private land, the municipal authorities had only served an officialwarning to the residents to shift elsewhere during the monsoons, for fear of landslides. "We are poor, where could have we gone leaving our huts. We were only hoping that a protective wall could be built so as to protect ourselves from falling rocks and boulders," commented an autorickshaw driver residing in the area.Meanwhile, the conditions of the two survivors Ganesh Thokal (25) and his wife Shyamala Thokal (20) is said to be stable at the Mulund General Hospital.Further investigations are on.
