A special team probing the fatal fire at Om Sakthi Fireworks in Mudhalipatti on Sunday arrested the proprietor of the cracker unit, where 38 people were charred to death last week. Though 12 people, including the lessees of the factory had already been detained by Vachakarapatti police, company owner Murugesan was on the run.
Murugesan was arrested at Samayanallur after he surrendered before the cops, a source claimed. The special team headed by Additional Deputy Superintendent Mayilvahanan, comprising Deputy Superintendents Ramamurthi, Sakthivel and Inspector Raja detained Murugesan, four days after the tragic fire at Mudhalipatti in Virudhunagar.
The blaze broke out in his factory when Murugesan was en-route to Ramanathapuram to take part in a family function, police said. On receiving information about the mishap, he went absconding.
Murugesan had entered into a lease agreement with his friend Palpandi, to operate the factory. The lessee (Palpandi) operated the factory by employing illiterate and unskilled labourers on a contract basis.
Moreover, the contractors did not implement requisite safety norms for handling explosives. Meanwhile, officials from Inspectorate of Factories, the local administration, police, fire and rescue and Pollution Control Board cancelled the No Objection Certificates issued to the fireworks unit.
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