Kolkata Police have arrested Saba Zafar, the final alleged accused in the Shikha Inn hotel fire case, nearly two months after the blaze in the city’s New Market area killed nine people, including a child. The detective department and the anti-rowdy squad carried out the arrest in Howrah’s Shibpur, according to Anandabazar – Kolkata.
The fire broke out at around 2am on August 18 on the third floor of the hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street. Smoke filled the rooms while residents were asleep, leaving several people unconscious, according to the report. The blaze also spread to nearby areas, triggering panic among people staying at the hotel.
Firefighters, personnel from New Market police station and members of the disaster management force reached the site after the incident was reported. Firefighters initially attempted to control the blaze from outside before entering the hotel to begin rescue operations. Several residents were taken to hospital after being rescued from the smoke-filled building.
Saba Zafar’s arrest follows the earlier arrest of her husband, Abu Zafar, and hotel owner Bireshwar Mitra. The report said the hotel lease was in Saba Zafar’s name. Police had been looking for her after Mitra’s questioning indicated that the lease arrangement also included her name.
Mitra was arrested from his home in Behala on August 22 after remaining absconding following the fire. During questioning, he reportedly told police that the hotel had been leased to Abu Zafar under a monthly agreement of Rs 40,000. Abu Zafar was detained earlier and subsequently arrested on the basis of Mitra’s statement.
The hotel’s location has also drawn attention to the operational challenges surrounding fire emergencies in dense commercial districts. The building was reportedly located just one building away from the headquarters of the fire department, yet the incident resulted in fatalities after smoke spread through the hotel while occupants were sleeping. The supplied report does not provide details of the hotel’s fire-safety permissions, inspections, evacuation arrangements or the investigation’s findings on the cause of the blaze.
With Saba Zafar’s arrest, police have now taken action against the alleged occupants or operators identified in the report: the hotel owner, the lessee Abu Zafar and Saba Zafar, whose name was associated with the lease. The report does not state whether a chargesheet has been filed, what specific offences have been invoked against each accused, or whether further arrests are expected.
