A significant fire that erupted at a government office in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah district is now under scrutiny for a potential conspiracy, with initial claims of an electrical fault being dismissed by investigators. The blaze, which broke out on the night of December 15, gutted parts of the Lower Ganga Canal division office of the irrigation department.
CCTV Footage Reveals Suspicious Movements
Contrary to the early assumption of a short circuit, a departmental investigation has uncovered suspicious activities captured on camera. The probe revealed that a fourth-grade employee, Bharat Kumar, entered the office premises around 11:02 PM on the night of the incident. He was seen leaving the building at approximately 12:09 AM.
Crucially, CCTV footage shows a paper in Bharat Kumar's hand as he exits, leading investigators to speculate that he may have removed an important document. Shortly after his departure, smoke was detected, and the fire rapidly spread across the office.
Three Employees Suspended as Probe Widens
The investigation committee promptly recommended the suspension of Bharat Kumar, and action was taken. This was not the first suspension related to the case; a watchman named Balveer had earlier been suspended on charges of negligence.
As the probe deepened, the role of a third employee came under suspicion. Rajveer, alias Pintu, a resident of Datawali, was found to have a potentially suspicious involvement. Interestingly, Rajveer had already been transferred to Katra Saman in Mainpuri back in October due to charges of negligence of duty. The investigation team, however, suspects his possible connection to the fire incident, leading to his subsequent suspension.
High-Level Committee Conducts Thorough Investigation
A high-level investigation committee has been formed under the leadership of Superintending Engineer Amitabh Kumar to get to the bottom of the matter. The committee is chaired by Executive Engineer Sanjay Kumar of Auraiya.
On Thursday, the committee conducted a detailed on-site inspection of the fire-ravaged office. They meticulously examined the CCTV footage and also investigated documents that were partially or fully burnt in the fire. Based on the cumulative evidence gathered during this process, the decisive step to suspend Rajveer was taken.
Executive Engineer Rakesh Kumar confirmed the developments, stating that the committee is thoroughly investigating all angles. The shift from a simple short-circuit theory to a potential deliberate act has raised serious questions, and the suspensions indicate the department's intent to hold those responsible accountable.
