12 held for Sivakasi fire,factory owner on the run

However,the factory owner is still absconding.

Police have arrested 12 persons for the fire at the firecracker manufacturing unit in Sivakasi which killed 38 people on Wednesday. While six were arrested on Wednesday,the rest were nabbed on Thursday. However,the factory owner is still absconding.

Officials said the factory had been illegally leased to R Palpandi,who has been arrested along with his brothers R Mahendran,R Pandithurai,foreman U Udayakumar and labour contractor Annadurai. They have been charged for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances,apart from provisions under the Indian Explosives Act.

We have formed 10

special teams to nab Murugesan,the original licence holder who is absconding, said DSP Najmul Hoda. Forensic and explosives experts inspected the factory site on Thursday and collected samples.

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Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has ordered an inquiry headed by the district revenue officer. The officer has been told to probe how and why the factory was functioning when its licence was suspended on Tuesday after an inspection last month revealed as many as 40 violations.

After the emergency meeting with top officials in Chennai on Thursday,Jayalalithaa also directed Virudhunagar district collector to begin an inspection of all fireworks units in the district.