Lokayukta guards were asleep when the doors were on fire
The arson is suspected to be an act of a disgruntled staffer
Preliminary inquiry into the fire incident at
While two staffers on night duty on the day the incident took have been suspended, hunt is on for a person who was caught walking restlessly on the
The staffers who have paid price for dozing off are
The incident, which is being suspected to be an attempt to gain entry into the building where vital case files, documents and evidences, besides cash and valuables seized during raids have been preserved, had taken place on the night of October 18.
Police had visited the place on the same night and initiated probe following a complaint.
However, preliminary inquiry has found that the attempt had less to do with accessing or destroying records, and seemed more to be an act of frustration by some disgruntled staffers who may have dismissed or suspended due to an inquiry or recommendation, a source explained. The documents could neither be reached, he added.
Also being probed is traces of bird feathers that were found at the site of the blaze.
The question that had cropped up immediately after the incident was who was on night duty and why had they not prevented the crime from happening.
The CCTV footage from the ground and first floor answered it all, a police source said.
“Two were supposed to be on night duty. CCTV showed one sleeping on the floor amidst rows of seats in front of reception counter on the ground floor. The other had slept on first floor. Those on night duty are supposed to be alert all the night, but it was otherwise,” the source added.
Lokayukta brass crack the whip
The Lokayukta brass, who too conducted an internal inquiry, found that the act of the two staffers amounted to dereliction of duty and both of them have been suspended.
They also have been issued a show-cause notice asking why further action should not be initiated against them. Based on their reply, the legal process will follow, a source added.
“The staffers of the institution on night duty are usually meant to keep vigil and the two deputed every night are supposed to make rounds in five floors to safeguard documents inside. Two policemen though are deputed, they are to safeguard the safe or strong room in the extreme end on the ground floor. While the Lokayukta staffers had dozed off, it was these people who rushed to the call and alerted the fire and police besides administration, on the night when the doors were set ablaze,” a source added.
The police source, added that CCTV had also captured the act and a man walking with some objects in hand, recceing the place before setting the door ablaze could be seen. The police who have gathered more clues about this person who seems to be middle aged are now putting efforts to establish his identity matching with other CCTV footage in the premises. Being a premises housing most of state government departments, the premises has sufficient CCTV cover and are being verified, added a source.
“The case is serious as to understand the motive of the accused. Hence due care is being taken as tomorrow this should not snowball into something serious. Both FSL and police are investigating into it. What’s a cause of concern is the place which is the institution’s head quarter and one can’t ignore categorizing it an act of mischief as it could be larger than that,” a brass of the institution said.
