GUWAHATI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the death of four workers in an explosion at a metal processing factory in Assam's Cachar district earlier this week.
ALSO READ: Powerful 7.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Japan’s Kyushu, Kills 13
The incident occurred on July 26 at the premises of Kade Global Infrastructure LLP in the Udharbond area of Cachar district, killing four workers, including three from Assam and one from Tripura. Two others sustained severe injuries.
The families of the victims said that molten metal spilled over the workers after the explosion, while local residents claimed that similar incidents had taken place at the factory earlier.
The NHRC said the reports, if true, indicate serious issues related to possible violations of human rights.
The Commission has issued notices to the Assam Government's Chief Secretary and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Cachar, seeking a detailed report on the incident within two weeks.
The report is expected to include the current health status of the injured workers, along with details of compensation provided to the families of the deceased and the injured workers.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the family of each deceased worker and said that negligence would not be tolerated.
"Industrial negligence will not be tolerated, and we will take firm action against any lapses," the Chief Minister wrote on X.
Assam Minister Kaushik Rai, who visited the site on Sunday, said a magisterial inquiry, a police investigation and a separate probe by the District Labour Commissioner have been initiated to determine whether mandatory safety measures were followed at the factory.
Police have arrested five persons, including the owner of the metal processing unit, within 48 hours of the incident. The accused are being investigated for alleged negligence and other offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), Cachar district, Rajat Pal, said on Tuesday that four of the accused were arrested from Cachar district, while the factory owner was apprehended from Guwahati on Monday.
"The accused have been arrested on charges of negligence and other offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and have been produced before the court," Pal said.
The arrested persons were identified as Alok Kumar Tiwari (34) of Rewa, Madhya Pradesh; Rama Kant Singh (35) of Muzaffarpur, Bihar; Shamim Akhtar (35) of Chhapra, Bihar; Rakesh Kumar Surana (63) of Guwahati; and Amichand Jangir (62) of Udharbond.
Surana is the owner of Kade Global Infrastructure LLP, while the other four accused were associated with the management of the company's metal processing unit where the explosion took place.