Two arrested on charge of causing fishing harbour blaze in Visakhapatnam

Two arrested on charge of causing fishing harbour blaze in Visakhapatnam. Half-burnt cigarette stub flipped onto a boat by one of the accused led to the fire accident, says Commissioner of Police. The police give a clean chit to YouTuber Vasupalli Nani in the case.

One week after the fire accident at the fishing harbour here that had destroyed 48 boats and caused huge financial loss, the police arrested two persons, whose negligence was allegedly responsible for the blaze.

Further, the police confirmed that YouTuber Vasupalli Nani had no involvement in the case.

The arrested were Vasupalli Nani (not the YouTuber), alias Donga Kollu alias Banti, and his uncle Allipalli Satyam, both residents of Chengalaraopeta in the One-Town area.

Addressing the media here on November 25, Commissioner of Police A. Ravi Shankar said the accused had gone to the fishing harbour on November 19. They got into a boat (No. 887), consumed liquor, and cooked dry fish on a gas-stove. Later, Nani smoked a cigarette and flipped the half-burnt stub onto the adjacent boat bearing No. 815 that belonged to M. Hari Sitharam.

Sparks from the cigarette stub fell on the nylon fishing net in the boat. Noticing the smoke, the duo fled from the spot due to fear. The CC cameras in the vicinity had captured the visuals of the duo leaving the harbour premises, Mr. Ravi Shankar said.

The presence of inflammable substances such as diesel and LPG cylinders in the boats, and the breeze from the sea helped the fire spread from one boat to another in quick succession, he added.

As the accused had not taken any steps to prevent the fire from spreading, knowing fully well that their act of negligence caused it, the police altered the Sections from accidental fire to IPC Sections 437, 438, and 285.