FIR against 3, including owner Radha Bagree

Kolkata: The fire brigade has submitted a complaint against Radha Bagree, owner of Bagree Market with the Burrabazar police station on Tuesday. On the basis of the complaint filed, the police have initiated a case against three persons including Radha Bagree. However, none of them could be traced by the investigators until Tuesday night.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Praveen Tripathi informed that a case has been initiated against two directors — Radha Bagree, Varun Raj Bagree and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bagree Estate Krishna Kumar Kothari. They have been booked them under different sections of the West Bengal Fire Service Act and the Indian Penal Code for not maintaining proper firefighting measures, mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy the house and criminal conspiracy. As of now, the Burrabazar police station will handle the case.

According to sources, on Tuesday morning, the police went to the Bagree residence but could not locate them. The investigators were informed by the security guards and other staff that they had left their residence on Sunday and did not know about their whereabouts.

On Tuesday, the fire at Bagree Market was not completely doused. According to the fire brigade officials, it will take at least two more days to completely douse the fire. "Though the blaze has been arrested, certain pocket fires can be traced. Firefighters and Disaster Management Group (DMG) personnel are working jointly to identify and douse the pocket fire situations. But there is no chance of spreading," said an official from the fire brigade.

Apart from the pocket fire, the building has been damaged very badly. On Tuesday morning, a section from the back portion of Bagree Market collapsed. Nobody has been hurt in the incident. Still, there is smoke coming out from every corner of the market. "The flames could not be traced. The firefighters are going through the cooling process. Some parts of the second and third floors are still vulnerable," said a police official.

On Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Rajeev Kumar visited the spot and gave directions to the officers. Mayor Sovan Chatterjee also visited Bagree Market in the afternoon.