Owner of fire-ravaged firecracker storage unit ?held

New Delhi, PTI: The police have arrested Manoj Jain, the owner of the firecracker storage unit in Bawana, where 17 people were killed in a massive blaze on Saturday.

A probe revealed that the unit contained "cold firecrackers" used in stage shows and Holi celebrations, said Rajneesh Gupta, deputy commissioner of police (Rohini).

Jain had rented the factory on January 1, Gupta said.

Seven of the deceased have been identified as Baby Devi (40), Afshana (35), Sonam (23), Reeta (18), Nadeen (55), Rakho (65) and Dharma Devi (45).

The fire had started on the ground floor of the two-storeyed building and then ripped through the structure.

Of the 17 killed, ten were women. A man and woman were injured.

Police said an FIR had been registered under IPC sections relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligent conduct with fire or combustible material.

The maximum punishment under the sections is 10 years.

Jain was apprehended and questioned on Saturday. His partner has been identified as Lalit Goel.

One of the injured labourers told the police that the firecrackers used to be brought from outside and were only packed at the unit.