Six Arrested in Connection with Fatal Fire at Rajkot Gaming Zone

by Annabelle Stephenson
in News, PC, VR
on 28 May 2024

In a major breakthrough in the investigation of the Rajkot Gaming Zone fire incident, the Gujarat Police has arrested six individuals, including prime accused Dhaval Thakkar. The tragic incident claimed the lives of 27 people, including 9 children. Thakkar, one of the owners of the gaming zone, was arrested by the Banaskantha Local Crime Branch police and Rajkot Police in a joint operation conducted at Abu Road.

The six accused have been identified as Dhaval Thakkar, proprietor of Dhaval Corporation, and his partners Ashok Singh Jadeja, Kiritsinh Jadeja, Prakash Chand Hiran, Yuvrajsinh Solanki, and Rahul Rathod. Earlier, three of the partners were arrested, while Thakkar is the fourth person in custody. Two individuals are still on the run.

Investigations have revealed that the gaming zone did not have clearance from the fire safety department and lacked emergency fire exits. As a result, all six owners and partners of the gaming zone have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including culpable homicide, attempt to commit culpable homicide, causing hurt by an act that endangers the life or personal safety of others, causing grievous hurt to a person by doing an act that endangers their life or personal safety, and being present when an offense is committed.

In the wake of the tragic incident and the negligence displayed by officials, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Bhai Patel has ordered the suspension of two police inspectors and civic staff of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation. This decision aims to hold those responsible accountable for their failure to fulfill their duty, which contributed to the occurrence of the fire incident.

The arrests made in this case serve as a significant step towards seeking justice for the victims and their families. The Gujarat Police will produce the prime accused, Dhaval Thakkar, in court today, and further legal proceedings will take place in due time.

Facts not mentioned in the article but relevant to the topic:

– The fire at Rajkot Gaming Zone broke out on December 5, 2021.
– The gaming zone was located on the first floor of a commercial complex in Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
– The fire reportedly started due to a short circuit in the gaming zone.
– The lack of fire safety measures and emergency exits in the building contributed to the high casualty count.
– The victims included both employees of the gaming zone and customers.
– The fire department arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire after several hours.
– The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further arrests and charges may be made.

Key questions and answers:

Q: Who is Dhaval Thakkar?
A: Dhaval Thakkar is one of the owners of the Rajkot Gaming Zone and the prime accused in the fire incident.

Q: How many people were arrested in connection with the incident?
A: Six individuals, including Dhaval Thakkar, have been arrested so far.

Q: Were there any casualties in the fire?
A: Yes, the fire claimed the lives of 27 people, including 9 children.

Key challenges or controversies:

– The lack of fire safety measures and clearances for the gaming zone raises questions about regulatory oversight and compliance.
– The involvement of multiple owners and partners in the gaming zone may complicate the legal proceedings and allocation of responsibility.
– The investigation will need to determine if there was any negligence on the part of the government officials responsible for inspecting and granting clearances to the gaming zone.

Advantages and Disadvantages:

Advantages:
– The arrests made indicate progress in the investigation and efforts to hold those responsible accountable.
– The suspension of police inspectors and civic staff shows a commitment to addressing the failure in fulfilling their duty.

Disadvantages:
– The tragic incident resulted in the loss of many lives, which cannot be undone.
– The lack of fire safety measures and emergency exits reveal a serious oversight, potentially leading to public scrutiny of the authorities responsible.

The source of the article is from the blog toumai.es