Mumbai: A local resident was arrested on Sunday in connection with the fire that gutted a major portion of the Garib Nagar slum near Bandra railway station on Thursday, leaving hundreds homeless.
Sabir Khan has been booked under several IPC sections for criminal conspiracy, endangering lives and safety of people, and causing a fire with an intent to destroy a house.
Senior PI Subhash Jadhav, Nirmal Nagar police station, said, “We believe there are more people involved. We are trying to identify and nab his accomplices.”
Police said Mr. Khan owned a garments workshop and lived with his four brothers in the slum. His shop and home too were destroyed in the fire. “His house and those of his accomplices were to be demolished. They started this fire to divert attention and stop the demolitions,” an officer said. On Sunday, Mr. Khan’s neighbours insisted he was being made a scapegoat, though they agreed the fire seemed to be part of a deliberate plan.
Police said Mr. Khan and his friends started the first fire in the houses below the ticket counter after the BMC squad had demolished some houses and moved ahead. One of them belonged to Sayeed Ahmed Qureshi, a resident for 25 years. He said, “Around 1,30 p.m., I returned from namaaz to find my house being demolished and my wife in a state of shock.” Mr. Qureshi alleged the BMC didn’t allow them to take their belongings. He took his wife to a hospital in Dongri with their son’s help, fearing a heart attack. “Around 3 p.m., A friend called to say a fire has broken out in my home,” he said.
Losses in crores
Locals alleged the fire destroyed homes that were not on BMC’s demolition list. While estimates are still being put together, residents said the fire caused losses worth several crores. Firoz Ali Sheikh, whose garment workshop was gutted, claimed he has lost nearly ₹22 lakh. “If it was only a demolition, we could have salvaged a lot of material and saved our machinery. Now, everything is burnt,” Mr. Shaikh said. Some of the poorest who live and work in Garib Nagar have lost homes, and in many cases, workshops too.
Ashiq Mirza, who lost approximately ₹15 lakh in goods and machinery, said for every person who owns a home, there are four to five who live on rent. “The fire has caused more damage than the BMC demolitions could. It has left no room to negotiate with the authorities,” a resident said.
Meanwhile, the BMC is set to resume its demolition drive on Monday. “We will take adequate precautions this time, including keeping a fire brigade team on standby,” Alka Sasane, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, H (East) Ward said.