Cops book Telangana scrap godown operator for negligence | Hyderabad News

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HYDERABAD: A case of negligence has been booked against the scrap godown operator after the death of 11 migrant workers in the Bhoiguda inferno on Wednesday morning. The operator has claimed that he has the necessary trade licence from GHMC but police are yet to verify.
Soon after the accident, Gandhi Nagar police identified Sampath from Dilsukhnagar as the operator of the scrap godown. Cops said that Sampath is cooperating in investigation and no arrests have been made so far.
“Sampath has taken the building on lease for his scrap business. After the accident Sampath came to the spot, but fell ill due to low blood pressure and was later admitted to a hospital,” central zone DCP M Rajesh Chandra said.
Police spoke to Sampath’s son and found out details about the workers.
“Some of these workers had been working in the godown for over two years and they brought more men from their native Bihar. As it was difficult for them to find separate lodging, the employer appears to have provided them with accommodation in the godown. Others running businesses nearby did not that workers were staying in the room above the godown,” Hyderabad commissioner CV Anand said.
Cops said that the act of the operator to give shelter to workers in the room above the godown where they also cooked food amounted to putting their lives at risk.
“We have registered a case under IPC sections 304-a (causing death due to rash or negligent act) and 337 (causing injuries due to rash or negligent act) against Sampath,” DCP Chandra said. There was also speculation that a fire had occurred at the same premise a few years ago. But cops after verification said that a fire did occur two years ago in another building in a lane nearby. There was only property damage then, cops said.
Meanwhile, former NDMA chairman Marri Shashidhar Reddy demanded that the officials look into the sabotage angle into the fire accident. He said he was told that some persons were exerting pressure on the owner of the property to sell it.