New Delhi: Police have arrested the owner of a crockery manufacturing factory in northwest Delhi’s Samaypur Badli after two workers —-sole breadwinners of their families— died when a goods lift collapsed earlier this week.The factory’s original owner had died about four months ago, and his daughter, the legal heir who took over the unit thereafter, has been arrested as the owner in the case, after a case of negligence was registered.
The deceased were identified as Hariom (32), a foreman, and Sanjay Mishra (45), a factory worker. Both were residents of the Samaypur Badli. The workers alleged that the goods lift had been malfunctioning for a long time and was making unusual noises. The machine operator told police that the former owner of the factory had once got the lift repaired, but the problem continued. After the factory changed hands, the workers reportedly informed the new owner about the issue.According to the complaint, the current owner had assured the workers that the lift would be fixed, but no repairs were carried out. Police said the lift continued to be used daily for carrying heavy cartons of crockery despite repeated warnings. Ram Anek, Mishra’s brother, told TOI, My brother’s wife is physically disabled and unable to walk and has been undergoing treatment. The entire responsibility of the household was on Sanjay,” he said. He added that Mishra’s elder son, Deepanshu (24), had recently started teaching tuition classes locally to support himself while pursuing computer courses and to contribute to the family’s income. “The younger son is just 17 and still in school. Sanjay earned around Rs 15,000 a month, and almost all of it went towards medical expenses, education and household needs,” Anek said.Hariom is survived by his wife and two young children, aged eight and nine years. His wife, also a homemaker, and the two children were entirely dependent on his earnings, his brother Rajat said.The incident occurred on Jan 14 when the two workers were using a goods lift . The lift’s cable allegedly snapped, causing it to plunge, police said.
