SIT to probe Jhabua blasts, Chouhan meets victims’ kin
15 Sept 2015 6:39 AM IST
The SIT has been set up to investigate Saturday’s blasts. Photos of main accused Rajendra <g data-gr-id="48">Kaswa</g>, who is on run since Saturday, will be released in public, said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who visited the tragedy-struck town for the second consecutive day despite being heckled on Sunday. On Saturday, Chouhan had ordered a judicial probe into the explosions after Home Minister Babulal Gaur, who visited the spot, briefed him about the situation.
The seven-member SIT would be headed by <g data-gr-id="45">Jhabua’s</g> Additional Superintendent of Police, said Makrand Deuskar, SP (law and order).
<g data-gr-id="39">Jhabua’s</g> Additional Superintendent of Police Seema <g data-gr-id="40">Alwa</g> said the police conducted searches at many places to arrest <g data-gr-id="41">Kaswa</g>. “A manhunt is on to nab him,” she said.
The Chief Minister has announced a slew of measures to rehabilitate those who have lost their kin in the explosion, which claimed 89 lives and asserted that <g data-gr-id="43">Kasawa</g>, the main accused would be arrested soon. “We will arrest <g data-gr-id="44">Kasawa</g> at any cost. He will be arrested shortly,” Chouhan said, who has visited 17 villages to express solidarity with the victims’ families.
Chouhan announced that the government will deposit Rs 25,000 each as fixed deposit in the bank accounts of girls, who lost their parents in <g data-gr-id="53">blast</g> that occurred on Saturday. Women, who lost their husbands will be given appointment in <g data-gr-id="50">anganwadis</g> and likewise men, who lost their wives will be deployed as chowkidars. Besides, girls who lost their parents will be given free education, he said.
The Chief Minister has also ordered the removal of two senior officials, the area sub-divisional magistrate and the sub-divisional police officer, on charges of dereliction of duty and the transfer of the entire staff of the police station in the affected area.
Chouhan also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for <g data-gr-id="46">Kaswa’s</g> arrest and Rs 5 lakh to <g data-gr-id="47">kin</g> of each deceased person instead of Rs 2 lakh announced earlier. He also announced jobs to one member of each bereaved family.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress had called a bandh in the district on Monday to offer condolence to the victim and protest against the explosion. The <g data-gr-id="33">bandh</g> partially affected normal life in the district. Shops and markets opened <g data-gr-id="34">after noon</g>.
<g data-gr-id="42">Kasawa</g>, who had stocked piles of explosives in a building close to a public place, is on the run since Saturday, the day the explosion took place. Angry over the incident, the local lawyers’ body has given a call for not defending accused in the courts.
69 detonators, gelatin sticks seized
Two days after an explosion claimed 89 lives in Petlawad town in Jhabua, police on Monday recovered 69 detonators and <g data-gr-id="107">large number</g> of gelatin sticks from the residence of the brother of the main accused in the incident. Rajendra Kaswa, the main accused, is absconding since the explosion occurred on Saturday, a police official said. Police recovered 69 detonators and two batteries from the Mahavir Colony residence of Narendra <g data-gr-id="92">Kasawa</g>, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Virendra Singh Bais said. Gelatin sticks too were recovered from the place, but their exact number is not yet known, he said. Narendra is also absconding along with his family from Petlawad, he said.
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