The news of about 4,000 EVMs getting burnt in a fire in a government building in West Bengal has created a stir. Police have registered an FIR in this matter and started investigation. At the same time, Union Minister Sukant Majumdar has not ruled out the possibility of irregularities. According to PTI News, a massive fire broke out in a nine-storey building in Alipur area of South Kolkata on Wednesday. Apart from other departments, the office of South 24 Parganas District Council was also there in the building.
west bengal Giving information about the incident, Minister Kaushik Chaudhary said that around 4,000 EVMs were burnt in a fire in a government building here, while the police has started investigation after registering an FIR in connection with the incident.
The Minister of State for Fire and Emergency Services said, “Around 4,000 EVMs were burnt in the fire. Those EVMs were used in 10 constituencies during the assembly elections held in the state this year.” After visiting the spot, Chaudhary said, “This does not appear to be a normal fire. We are investigating whether there was any vandalism or not. It is still not clear how the fire reached the ninth and tenth floors.” He said that the fire was first seen on the second and third floors of the building.
How did the fire reach the seventh and eighth floors?
“How did it reach the seventh and eighth floors without affecting the fourth, fifth and sixth floors? The entire matter is being investigated,” the minister told reporters. Chaudhary said that he is waiting for the forensic report to get better information about the incident. Officials said that the possibility of fire in small places cannot be ruled out.
Meanwhile, the South 24 Parganas administration has filed a written complaint at the Alipore police station demanding an investigation into the incident. The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of the district had filed a complaint, after which the police registered an FIR and started investigation. Investigators are probing whether the fire occurred due to electrical fault or some other reason. Officials said that no specific reason has been known yet.
Investigators are focused on how the fire spread across multiple floors, so the building has been secured and entry and exit restricted. Police have also increased surveillance around the campus.
Union Minister Sukant Majumdar said this
Forensic experts are expected to inspect the spot and collect samples to find out the source of the fire. Officials said forensic results will be important in determining whether the fire was accidental or the result of a deliberate act.
Political reactions have also emerged on this incident. Union minister Sukant Majumdar said the possibility of sabotage should not be ruled out, while BJP leader Rakesh Singh alleged that the fire was a planned act. No evidence to support such claims has been made public yet.
However, the investigating officers said that the results would be drawn only on the basis of forensic investigation and scientific evidence. Officials are also estimating the damage caused to government records, infrastructure and security systems kept in the building.
Input: PTI News
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