Deadly Delhi Paint Factory Fire: Arrests Made, Owners Son Among Accused

In the aftermath of a devastating fire at a Delhi paint factory that resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, two arrests have been made, including the son of the factory owner. The incident, which occurred in the Alipur area, is being investigated for illegal chemical paint mixing.

New Delhi, February 17: In the aftermath of the tragic fire incident that claimed the lives of 11 individuals at a paint factory in the capital, significant developments have emerged. Two individuals, including the son of the factory owner and the owner of the land where the factory was situated, have been apprehended by the police in connection with the incident.

Arrests and Investigations

The arrested individuals have been identified as Akhil Jain, the 37-year-old son of the deceased factory owner Ashok Jain, and Rajrani, the owner of the land on which the factory was situated. The fire, which broke out on the evening of February 15 in the Alipur area of outer Delhi, resulted in the unfortunate loss of 10 workers in addition to Ashok Jain.

The incident was preceded by a blast, which led to the rapid spread of the fire to nearby buildings, including a drug rehabilitation center and eight shops. Investigations have revealed that a substantial quantity of inflammable material was found within the factory premises, raising serious concerns regarding safety standards.

FIR and Rescue Efforts

Based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Anil Kumar of the Alipur police station, an FIR has been registered in connection with the incident. The FIR states that upon arriving at the scene along with other police personnel, they witnessed the raging fire engulfing the factory and nearby houses. Multiple explosions were also heard during the rescue operation, resulting in injuries to Constable Karambir.

Following the extinguishing of the fire, a thorough inspection was conducted by the crime team. The factory contained numerous machines and iron drums that were found in a burnt state, indicating the severity of the blaze. The investigation revealed that the factory owner had accumulated a substantial amount of inflammable material, posing a significant risk to human life.

Arrests and Identification of Victims

Given the unfortunate demise of the factory owner in the fire, his son Akhil Jain was subjected to interrogation and requested to furnish documents related to the factory's operations since 2017. Consequently, both Akhil Jain and Rajrani, the owner of the plot, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

All 11 victims of the fire have been identified, and their bodies have been handed over to their respective families after post-mortem examinations. Eight bodies were released to the families on Friday, while the remaining three were identified and handed over on Saturday.

Audit of Other Factories

In light of the incident, the police have announced plans to conduct an audit of other factories operating in Alipur's Dayal market. Local residents have raised concerns regarding the illegal operation of over 100 factories manufacturing chocolates, slippers, and paint in the area.

The authorities are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community by taking stringent measures to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.