Six killed as four-storey building collapses in Gurgaon
Gurgaon, Jan 24: Six labourers were killed after an under-construction, four-storey building collapsed in a village here on Thursday morning, officials said.
Some more persons are feared trapped in the rubble of the building in Ullawas village near sector 65 of Gurgaon, officials said. The state government has announced a compensation relief of Rs 3 lakh each to the family members of the deceased.
"Six bodies have been retrieved from the accident site so far. The rescue teams are still on the job," a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) spokesperson said.
According to an official, the newly-laid ceiling on the top floor of the building had crashed, triggering the collapse of the entire structure.
"Those killed were on the second and the third floor, the building's ground and first floor were vacant," the NDRF official, involved in the rescue operation, said.
Three of the deceased, identified as Kuldeep (32), Vishal (17), Altaf (24), were residents of Uttar Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar, while one Anand is a native of Bihar's Samastipur, said Gurgaon Police spokesperson Subhash Bokan.
"The identity of the other two deceased was yet to be established," he said. All the victims were asleep when the building collapsed, Bokan said, adding that a magistrate-level enquiry has been initiated into the incident. The police said they are on the lookout for the building's owner, a resident of Ullawas village.
"Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the family members of the deceased in the building collapse," officials said.
The Gurgaon Fire Department control room received a call at 5.15 am alerting them about the collapse. Personnel from the police, the fire department, the NDRF and the Haryana state disaster management authority were involved in the rescue operation.
Two teams of NDRF from its base in Ghaziabad and one from its regional base in Delhi's Dwarka were rushed to the site in the morning.
Another team of NDRF was sent from the Ghaziabad base in the evening to relieve one of the teams working since morning, an official said, adding the rescue operation would go on in the night.
The early hours of the operation made little progress as the rescue personnel had to move huge chunks of concrete, iron grills and other debris.
"NDRF responders removed rubble and cleared obstructive materials using high-tech equipment to reach the victims. Thereafter, a vertical approach was made with the help of specialised gear," the NDRF spokesperson said.
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Karnataka: SP’s gunman among two arrested for extorting money from rice smuggler
Ballari (Karnataka) (PTI): An armed police constable serving as the district superintendent of police’s personal gunman, along with his accomplice, was arrested for allegedly extorting money from a rice smuggler, police said on Friday.
Devaraj, who had been serving as the SP’s gunman for the past four and a half years, was identified as the mastermind behind the incident.
Following an investigation, Devaraj and his accomplice Sairam were arrested on May 6, while efforts are underway to nab a third accused, Gadilinga, a practising advocate in Ballari, who is absconding, police said.
The matter came to light after a complaint was filed by Sharabappa, a habitual offender allegedly involved in illegal rice transport, they added.
According to police, the incident occurred on the intervening night of April 27 and 28, when a group of masked men intercepted Sharabappa’s rice-laden vehicles near the Moka forest area.
The accused allegedly introduced themselves as members of an “SP squad”, threatened to seize the vehicles and file criminal cases, and demanded money to avoid legal action.
Police said the accused initially demanded Rs 5 lakh and later extorted around Rs 3 lakh from the complainant.
Investigation revealed that Devaraj was the main person involved in demanding and collecting the money, while Sairam and Gadilinga were also involved in the offence. Sairam was allegedly involved in similar activities earlier as well.
Devaraj and Sairam were arrested under Sections 308(2) (extortion) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police also seized the extorted cash, the four-wheeler, and mobile phones allegedly used in the crime. Efforts are underway to trace Gadilinga.
Addressing a press conference, Ballari Superintendent of Police Suman D Pennekar described the incident as a serious offence that has tarnished the image of the police department.
"There is no official ‘SP squad’ or ‘DSP squad’ operating in the district. Such labels are often misused by impostors or corrupt individuals to commit extortion," the SP clarified.
She said no involvement of other police officers has been found so far.
Departmental proceedings have been initiated against Devaraj, and suspension proceedings are underway. The SP added that strict action will be taken against anyone involved in such offences.
Police said Sharabappa, the complainant, is a known habitual offender involved in illegal rice smuggling, and several cases have already been registered against him in the Moka and Peddihalli areas. A separate case has also been registered against him in connection with rice smuggling on the night of the incident.
Authorities are also exploring the possibility of initiating externment proceedings against him under applicable legal provisions.
The SP urged the public to report any extortion attempts by persons claiming to be part of an “SP squad”, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.
