The crime branch on Friday kicked off its probe into the devastating fire at the Mantralaya, with its main focus being to look for any signs of arson or sabotage.
According to crime branch officials, four units of the crime branch — units I, II, IV and V — have been ordered to work on the case, headed by assistant commissioner of police, H.S. Vhatkar.
“We are working in close tandem with the forensic sciences laboratory (FSL), the fire department and electrical engineers. We will be exploring four avenues of investigation: Forensic analysis, witness statements, CCTV footage and circumstantial evidence,” said Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police, crime branch.
Crime branch officials are currently combing the fourth and the fifth floor of the Mantralaya to look for any traces of explosive or inflammable material, photographing and recording videos of the complete damage. The sixth and seventh floors are still being cooled by the fire brigade. The focus will initially be on the fourth floor, where the fire is believed to have originated. Sources said that the fire was so intense that even after it was put out, the sheer heat generated by it damaged the cellphones of some policemen who visited the Mantralaya on Friday. It is believed to have spread throughout the four floors due to the large amount of paper and furniture.
***
Trinamul MP: will appeal in Supreme court
Rajib Chowdhuri and Kaushik Pradhan
Kolkata, June 22
In a landmark ruling, the Calcutta high court on Friday held the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act 2011 as “unconstitutional and void.” Reacting to this, Trinamul Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee said: “When a high court grants a stay for two months on a judgment, the judges are in doubt about the judgment itself. This is really unheard of, that a judgment is stayed by the same judges. We earlier won in the single bench but lost in the division bench. So it is 1:1. The final court is the Supreme Court. The state will move the Supreme Court.”
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee while leaving the state Assembly for the Writers’ Buildings said, “I don’t wish to make any comment on this verdict. However, the government is committed to the return of land to the farmers in Singur. The farmers in Singur will get victory and I believe so.”