Lucknow Aliganj fire arrests: Four joint owners held after 15 deaths in building blaze

Lucknow police have arrested four people linked to a fatal fire at a commercial building in Aliganj that left 15 dead. Officials said the accused are joint owners. An FIR at Aliganj police station cites Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections and the Uttar Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services Act over alleged safety lapses.

Police in Lucknow arrested four people after a fire in Aliganj killed 15 people. The blaze hit a three-storey commercial building on Monday afternoon. Several others were injured, police said. Officials said the arrested people were joint owners of the building linked to the incident.

An FIR was registered at Aliganj police station against six named individuals and others, police said. The case was filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS. It also invoked provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services Act, officials added.

Lucknow fire case: Sections and allegations in FIR

The FIR included BNS Sections 110 attempt to commit culpable homicide and 105 culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It also listed Section 125 for a rash or negligent act endangering human life. Police added sections under the UP Fire and Emergency Services Act to the complaint.

Investigators alleged the building had approval for residential use. Police said it was being used illegally for commercial activity. Aliganj ACP Shashi Prakash Mishra said, "that the allegations are under investigation, and appropriate action will be taken.\" Police also said further legal proceedings were underway.

Lucknow fire case: Arrested accused and building details

Police identified the arrested people as Ram Krishna Upadhyay 43, from Sector-D, Aliganj. Virendra Prasad Shukla 62, from the Sitapur Road area, was also held. Another arrested person was Tushar Krishna Jaiswal 31, from the Balaganj area, police said.

The fourth accused was identified as Suresh Kumar Sahu, a resident of Keshavnagar Lucknow, police said. Officials repeated that the arrested people were joint owners of the building. Police said the investigation will examine responsibility linked to safety and use of the property.

The building contained an animation centre where students had gathered, police said. A pet shop and a clinic operated on the lower floors. Police said the fire spread through the commercial building and caused deaths and injuries. Authorities said the case will proceed under the listed laws.

With inputs from PTI