Suspended Officers to be Questioned in Rajkot Game Zone Fire Tragedy, Says SIT Chief

AHMEDABAD,GUJARAT : All suspended officers, whether they are IAS, IPS, or fire department officers, will be summoned and questioned within the next two days regarding the devastating inferno at the TRP Game Zone in Rajkot, stated Subhash Trivedi, head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), on Wednesday.

Members of the SIT convened with Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, in Gandhinagar. Following the meeting, Subhash Trivedi addressed the media, emphasizing the gravity of the incident. “This is a very unfortunate incident. When we visited the scene, we also felt the same anguish as everyone else, as we are also citizens. Initial decisions have been made based on the files presented within 24 hours, but that does not mean that any culprit will be spared,” Trivedi asserted.

Trivedi confirmed that all suspended IAS, IPS, and fire department officers will be summoned and interrogated within one or two days. “Instructions from the Home Minister are clear: whether it is IAS, IPS, or IFS, they will all be summoned and interrogated,” he added.

Regarding the swift clearing of the game zone area post-incident, Trivedi clarified, “We had to find the people who were missing or dead in a 3000-degree Celsius temperature. The clearing of the areas was not intended to destroy evidence but to find any remains of the missing people or deceased individuals so that DNA and forensic science laboratory (FSL) analysis could be conducted to identify them.”

Trivedi mentioned that determining whether to register a crime against the suspended officers would depend on the investigation of their roles in the incident. “Action will be taken based on that investigation,” he stated.

Addressing the report of thousands of liters of petrol stored at the game zone, Trivedi noted, “As per the Petroleum Act, if the quantity is more than 30 liters, permission has to be obtained. The FSL team is preparing a report on the matter, and action will be taken based on that report.”

The Rajkot game zone fire, which claimed 28 lives, has led to a significant outcry for justice and accountability. The SIT’s investigation is pivotal in uncovering the lapses that led to the tragedy and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. The commitment to summon and interrogate high-ranking officials underscores the seriousness of the investigation and the intent to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice.