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Crime
Kolkata Hotel Fire Claims Nine Lives; Lease‑holder Arrested, Owner Still Missing
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 20 Aug 2026, 01:40 PM
👁 8
A blaze at a Kolkata hotel killed nine people, including five Bangladeshis, and police have arrested the lease‑holder while the owner remains at large.
A fire broke out in a Kolkata hotel, leaving nine dead. Among the victims were five Bangladeshi nationals, and one each from Bihar and West Bengal; two bodies are yet to be identified, officials said.
Police investigations led to the arrest of the hotel's lease‑holder, while two other individuals were detained for questioning. The owner of the property, identified as Bireshwar Mitra, has not been located and is currently absconding, according to police statements.
Authorities are conducting a thorough probe to determine the cause of the inferno and to hold all responsible parties accountable. The incident has raised concerns about fire safety compliance in commercial establishments across the city.
The Kolkata Police have urged anyone with further information about the case or the missing owner to come forward, emphasizing the need for swift justice for the victims' families.
Police investigations led to the arrest of the hotel's lease‑holder, while two other individuals were detained for questioning. The owner of the property, identified as Bireshwar Mitra, has not been located and is currently absconding, according to police statements.
Authorities are conducting a thorough probe to determine the cause of the inferno and to hold all responsible parties accountable. The incident has raised concerns about fire safety compliance in commercial establishments across the city.
The Kolkata Police have urged anyone with further information about the case or the missing owner to come forward, emphasizing the need for swift justice for the victims' families.