TMC seeks speedy trial in AMRI case

Trinamool Congress on Wednesday demanded a fast trial in connection with the tragic incident of AMRI Hospital fire that had claimed 93 lives four years ago. 

This comes when the charge framing process against the 16 accused is still to be complete. Hearings in Alipore Court in connection with the framing of charges are going on for the past one and a half years. The trial can only begin when the charges against the accused are framed. 

The police have booked all the 16 accused on charges of “culpable homicide not amounting to murder” under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), while the defence counsels pleaded before the court that the police should book the accused under section 304A (an negligence act that led to someone’s death)  of IPC. Thirteen of the 16 accused were arrested soon after the incident. But they were released on bail after around 120 days of their arrest. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had rushed to the spot. Later the licence of the hospital was cancelled. The fire had broke out early in the morning and local residents were allegedly not allowed to enter the hospital building to initiate the rescue work. 

The incident had also brought to light the lapses in the part of the state fire department. A special team was later formed to check the fire safety measures in other hospitals and nursing homes in the state. The private hospitals were directed to improve the fire safety arrangements according to the directions of the officials in the team.