Srinagar, July 6: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Police probing the cause of fire at the shrine of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) has held Fire and Emergency Service (FES) department responsible for negligence of duty. While no action has been taken as yet against the authorities of the accused department for negligence, the SIT has instead arrested a constable of the department for allegedly instigating people.
A police official associated with the SIT told Greater Kashmir that preliminary investigation has revealed that if the FES department would have acted in time and intelligently, most of the shrine structure could have been saved. “They (FES) were informed at 6.30 am and till 8.30 am their men and machinery had not acted. Even the Bronto Sky Vehicles were not pressed into service,” the official said. “We have held them responsible for negligence of duty while dousing the fire at the shrine.”
The SIT team has conveyed the findings to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, who is also probing the fire. “To our knowledge, Divisional Commissioner has also held the FES department responsible,” the official said.
The SIT sleuths have questioned and recorded the statements of 22 persons, including the Vice-Chairman Waqf Board, Sajada Nisheen and shrine management personnel.
While investigating the old-wiring angle that might have resulted in short circuit, the SIT official said that Waqf Board was not fully cooperating. “We wrote them to furnish the details of expenditure regarding the shrine, their answer was not in clear terms,” the official said adding they have shot another letter and have asked them to furnish clear details.
The SIT is also in search of people who have taken photographs when the fire broke out.
While no action has been taken against the authorities of FES department on the findings of SIT and Divisional administration, a constable of the department, identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan of Rainawari area of old Srinagar, has been arrested for allegedly instigating people. Ironically, the arrest has been made on a complaint by Director FES department, who should have been held accountable at the first place for negligence of his department.
“He (Director) gave us in writing that Imtiyaz Ahmad is involved in instigation while the shrine was burning. He has written that Imtiyaz provoked people and they disrupted the law and order in the shrine area,” an SIT official said. “Though he was arrested two days earlier, but today (Friday) he was booked in FIR 38 under Section 109,” the official said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST