Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SB)

Bangalore, Feb 28: Ulsoor police took four people into custody on Saturday February 27 in connection with Carlton Towers fire accident on February 23 that claimed nine lives and left several injured. are four hotels and 63 offices in the complex.
 
Although no one has been charged as yet, the police on Saturday evening took into custody Rafique-ur-Rehman (45), a resident of Munireddypalya, who owns a shop in the ill-fated Carlton Towers on Old Airport Road. He is also the secretary of the Carlton Towers Owners’ Association. Ramachandra Bhandari (54), from Kavalbyrasandra, who is the security in-charge of the building; Kempegowda alias Kiran (31), from Udayanagar, the administrative and electrical supervising officer, and Chennaiah (26), a resident of C V Raman Nagar and the building maintenance officer were the others detained by the police.

The police are interrogating the four and trying to ascertain their role in neglecting adequate safety measures that would possibly have averted the tragedy.

In another development, in a report submitted to the home secretary, the Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services has pointed out several lapses on the part of the building owners in adopting safety measures. Of the three gates inside the towers, only one was open and the other two had been closed for the past several months. Corridors on the second, third and fourth floors were blocked and the gates near the staircase were also closed, the report said. There Investigating officers said they were on the verge of completing the probe and a detailed report would be submitted soon.