Surathkal: A fire accident was reported at the waste treatment plant of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) on Tuesday morning, officials said.
The incident occurred around 11 am during welding work near the petroleum waste treatment facility at the Phase-3 unit between Jokatte and Bajpe. During the welding operation, a spark reportedly struck a pipe connected to the waste treatment plant, triggering an explosion.
Police said the spark hit a treatment tank with a capacity of about 10,000 litres, causing it to explode. Employees working a few feet away from the site escaped unhurt after hearing the loud explosion.
Following the incident, all entry and exit gates of MRPL in Bajpe, Jokatte and Surathkal areas were closed, and restrictions were imposed on the movement of vehicles and people.
Fire tenders from MRPL visited the spot and carried out firefighting operations for about two hours to bring the situation under control.
While hot work is usually carried out only after ensuring that no petroleum waste is released into processing units, residents of Jokatte alleged that wastewater discharge led to the incident and expressed outrage, accusing MRPL of negligence and irresponsibility.
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Ballia (PTI): A police inspector has been suspended here for allegedly using abusive and obscene language during a phone conversation with a 33-year-old rape survivor, officials said on Wednesday.
The action came after an audio clip, purportedly of Inspector Naresh Malik of the Crime Branch, went viral on social media on Monday.
In the clip, he is allegedly heard speaking to the woman in an objectionable manner during his earlier posting as inspector (crime) at the local Ubhaon police station.
According to the police, a case was registered on February 20 at the Ubhaon police station based on the woman's complaint.
The woman had alleged that a forest department sub-inspector, Ugrasen Kumar Jaiswal, raped her about six months ago on the pretext of marriage. She also alleged that he threatened to kill her if she pursued the complaint.
In a separate complaint sent to the deputy inspector general of police, the survivor alleged that Malik and SHO Sanjay Shukla had called her and used abusive and obscene language, asking her to meet them alone. She further alleged that they told her her case would be helped only if she "satisfied" them, and that Malik even offered her money during the conversation.
Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh said the matter came to his notice on Monday, following which Malik was placed under suspension with immediate effect.
An inquiry has been ordered into the allegations, and Additional Superintendent of Police (North) Dinesh Kumar Shukla has been assigned to probe the matter, Singh said.
"Strict action will be taken against the accused based on the findings of the inquiry," the SP added.
