Rajkot game zone fire: Gujarat Police file FIRs against owners of 18 illegal game zones

Rajkot game zone where the fire erupted did not have a fire NOC/ PTI

Following the Rajkot game zone fire, Gujarat Police has initiated action against 18 illegal game zones that are functioning without proper authorization, officials stated on Wednesday. Harsh Sanghavi, State Home Minister, directed police commissioners and superintendents to file FIRs against these unlawful establishments after meeting with state DGP Vikas Sahay and other senior officers in Gandhinagar on Tuesday, according to an official release.

The action came following the Rajkot game zone fire wherein a blaze erupted at the TRP Game Zone in Rajkot on May 25, which killed 27 people, including children.

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Sanghavi directed the police to file FIRs against the owners of game zones that operate without fire safety NOCs or other required licences and permissions.

In Rajkot, police sealed eight game zones, including a water park, and filed proceedings against their proprietors for operating without a licence. FIRs were filed under Section 336 of the Indian Penal Code (Act endangering the life or personal safety of others) and provisions of the Gujarat Police Act.

Police in Ahmedabad have sealed four illegal game zones and filed complaints against their proprietors following the Rajkot game zone fire. Police Commissioner GS Malik noted, "As per the law, game zones are first required to take various NOCs regarding fire safety as well as electrical and mechanical safety. They need to get permission from the police by showing these NOCs. None of these four game zones had acquired our permission before starting their operations."

In Surat, authorities sealed six game zones in the Rander, Pal, Umara, and Vesu regions and filed complaints against their proprietors for operating without proper permission.

The Rajkot game zone fire is being probed by a Special Investigation Team formed by the state government. So far, the city police have detained five people. The Rajkot collector stated that all of the victims' DNA samples had been matched to their relatives.

On Monday, the Gujarat High Court chastised the Rajkot civic body for its failure to enforce fire safety laws at the game zone complex where the fire started. A special panel of Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan Desai questioned if the civic body had violated fire safety regulations for 18 months.

With PTI inputs