JHABUA: Police today arrested three persons, including brothers of the prime accused Rajendra Kasawa and a supplier of mining explosives, in connection with the blast in Petlawad town that killed 89 people last week.
While the supplier, identified as Dharmendra Rathore, was apprehended from Jhabua district in evening, Narendra and Phoolchand Kasawa who were detained two days back were formally placed under arrest today.
"We produced Narendra and Phoolchand before a court. We sought their remand till Monday which was granted to us by the court concerned," district Additional Superintendent of Police and Special Investigation Team (SIT) head Seema Alawa told PTI.
She said while Rathore was booked under Explosive Substance Act, the Kasawa brothers under relevant sections of Explosive Substance Act 1908 for illegally storing the explosives used for mining and other works.
However, whereabouts of Rajendra Kasawa still remain unknown even as police have decided to conduct DNA profiling of three unidentified bodies to ascertain whether Kasawa is actually dead.
On September 12, 89 people were killed and nearly 100 injured after a massive blast caused by mining explosives stockpiled in a building ripped through a crowded area near bus stand in the town.