MAPUSA
Eight days after a blast incident rocked the Mapusa town, police arrested the owners of the bar and restaurant for negligence.
The fire officials had claimed that the blast happened due to leakage of LPG through a cracked hose pipe connected to the gas stove.
The alleged accused, Ramkrishna Mayekar and his wife were apprehended by Mapusa Police on Tuesday.
The blast incident happened in the wee hours of January 22 in the Hill Top Bar and Restaurant located at Breeze Apartments, Dangui Colony, Mapusa.
The massive blast had ripped off the front shutters and a window grill of the premises which landed at least 20 metres away.
Several window panes of neighbouring flat owners were shattered and a wall of a house nearby also suffered a crack.
Some vehicles parked in the vicinity were also damaged in the blast incident.
After conducting a detailed inquiry the Department of Fire Services informed that the incident happened due to leakage of LPG gas through the damaged hose pipe.
Based on the report of Fire Department, Mapusa Police registered an FIR under Sections 336 (negligence), 285 (negligence with fire), 427 (mischief) R/w 34 IPC.
Mapusa PI Paresh Naik arrested the alleged accused.
Police have also written to the excise department to cancel the excise licence to the bar while the civic body has been petitioned to revoke trade licence to the business.
Further investigation is in progress under the supervision of Mapusa SDPO Jivba Dalvi and SP North Nidhin Valsan (IPS).
