Dharmasthala mass burial case: SIT completes one phase of scanning with GPR at Site 13
Belthangady: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case completed the first phase of scanning at Site 13 identified by the complainant using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) on Tuesday afternoon.
In addition to Site 13, GPR scanning was conducted for more than 100 metres beside the Nethravathi Ajikuri Road by a group of about 60 people, including senior officers in the SIT, Puttur Assistant Commissioner Stella Varghese and other experts.
An earthmover was also brought to the site when the scanning was completed.
The members of the group are inspecting the site after the scanning, and are expected to take a decision on the next move in the operation post-inspection.
Dr. Pronab Mohanty, who heads the SIT, reportedly arrived at the spot and led the operation on Tuesday. He is also learned to have held a discussion with the other officers before returning.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
'Someone must be held accountable': HC converts civil suit on Goa nightclub tragedy into PIL
Panaji (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying "someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy in which 25 people were killed.In a stern observation, Goa bench of the High Court of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan said the local panchayat had "failed to take suo motu cognisance" of the club and had taken "no action despite complaints."
The division bench directed the Goa government to file a detailed reply on the permissions granted to the nightclub.
The High Court, while fixing January 8 as the next date of hearing, pointed out that commercial operations were continuing in the structure despite it having been served a demolition order.
The original petition was filed after the December 6 tragedy by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub was operating.
ALSO READ: Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa laid to rest with full state honours
Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, the lawyer representing the petitioner, was made amicus curiae in the matter and has been asked to file a detailed affidavit in the matter.
In their petition, Amonkar and Divkar highlighted "the alarming pattern of statutory violations that have remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices, and even a demolition order".
They contended that these violations posed "immediate threats to public safety, ecological integrity, and the rule of law in the state of Goa."
Investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire have revealed various irregularities, including lack of permissions to operate the nightclub.
The Goa police arrested five managers and staff members of the club, while co-owners Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra have been detained in Thailand after they fled the country.
