Bhopal, December 7 (IANS). Thirteen people were arrested on Saturday in connection with a fire incident in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. More than 30 people, including children and women, were burnt in the incident.
The incident took place on November 29 during a ‘Mashal’ procession in the Malwa-Nimar region in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. The fire took a huge form, due to which there was panic among the people and people started running here and there to escape.
Police have registered a case against 18 people for organizing the torch procession without mandatory approval from the district administration and police.
The district police conducted a search operation on Saturday and arrested eight accused from different places in Khandwa. Later, five more accused surrendered before the police. Five other accused are still absconding.
Khandwa SP Manoj Kumar Rai said on Saturday, “A total of 13 people responsible for organizing the Mashal Yatra have been arrested during the search operation.”
Rai said investigation revealed that five of them had previous involvement in criminal activities and were out on bail.
“The search for the remaining five accused is ongoing and they will be arrested soon,” he said.
More than 250 people, including women and children, participated in the torch procession. After the procession ended, people gathered at Ghantaghar Chowk.
Meanwhile, some torches fell on the ground where the liquid used to start the fire was kept. After this a stampede like situation arose.
Police said that most of the people’s hands and faces were burnt. However, there is no news of any casualty.
–IANS
AKJ/
