Chikkaballapura: Key accused in quarry blast arrested

Chikkaballapura: G S Nagaraja, one of the partners of the quarry and the prime accused in the Chikkaballapura quarry blast case has been arrested, police said. Nagaraja, also a local BJP leader from Gudibande who had been absconding since the blast, was held on Thursday, police sources said.

Police have also picked up another person named Ganesh, who hails from Tamil Nadu and is said to be the person who regularly carried out blasting for the crusher unit, for investigation.

Six people were killed when the gelatin sticks they were trying to hide exploded accidentally at a stone quarry site at a village in Chikkaballapura district, early on Tuesday.

Police on Wednesday had announced the arrest of five people – three partners of the quarry and two employees – in connection with the case. Gudibande Police Station Circle Inspector Manjunath and Sub-Inspector Gopal Reddy have been kept under suspension pending enquiry, on charges of dereliction of duty.