Ferozepur: Fire in courtroom destroys files

FEROZEPUR: Hundreds of documents pertaining to different cases were destroyed in a fire that broke out in the ahlmad room of additional district and session judge Jatinder Kaur, here on Saturday night. There was no casualty in the incident. The fire, which broke out around 3.30am, could be brought under control only around 6.30am. The job of clearing embers and saving documents went on throughout the day.The ahlmad's room maintains records pertained to criminal disputes, civil disputes including matrimonial and motor accident claims. Though the extent of loss was yet to be ascertained, sources said the criminal revision branch was the worst affected as it lost around 70 per cent of the total record. Certain files were, reportedly, destroyed by water used to extinguish the fire.
The fire department took more than two hours to douse the flames. Even at 11pm, smoke was seen emanating from some of the windows of the room. The fire was first noticed by a constable, deputed at the gate of deputy commissioner's office, who rushed towards the room after hearing the sound of a blast. The police party visited the spot and found an empty jar and an iron rod, which indicated the fire could be result of sabotage. District and session judge, Ferozepur, Jaspal Singh also reached the spot to take stock of the situation. He said the extent of loss of records could be ascertained only after clearing the documents.
"The case files, which have been reduces to ashes would be reconstructed as per the guidelines of the high court," he added.