HC judge to head Meerut inferno judicial probe

Meerut/Lucknow, Apr 11 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today ordered a judicial probe into the trade fair inferno yesterday which has left at least 60 persons dead.

Talking to reporters in Meerut after meeting the injured, the CM said the time frame and the judge who would head the probe will be decided shortly.

UP Principal Secretary (Home) S K Aggarwal said in the state capital that a High Court judge would head the probe. ''The government has written a letter to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court today...the time frame and the name of the judge would be made public either tonight or tomorrow.'' Sources in the state government, meanwhile, said the details could be announced tomorrow during the briefing of the decisions taken by the state cabinet in its meeting. ''Chief Secretary N C Bajpai will brief the media. He might announce the details,'' an official claimed.

If any person was found guilty in the report no matter who that person is be will be brought to book, the CM noted.

The Chief Minister declined to comment on BSP chief Mayawati's demand for a CBI inquiry into the fire.

Earlier, the entourage of Mr Yadav had to face the wrath of the victims' relatives, who alleged that the administration had a callous attitude in dealing with the emergency, when the Chief Minister visited the site of the fire at the Victoria Park.

(Eds please pick suitably from the earlier series) UNI Team DH BD0037