Builder tied to house collapse that killed 3 slapped with NSA

AGRA: Days before his bail plea, the district administration along with police in Mathura on Thursday invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against local builder Sunil Chen , main accused in a case involving an excavation that led to the collapse of five houses, including a multi-storey unit, in the city's congested Maya Tila area on June 15. Three people died in the incident.

A case was subsequently registered against Sunil Chen and others under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 105 (culpable homicide). Chen was later arrested and sent to jail. His bail plea is scheduled to come up for hearing in the district judge's court later this month.

SSP Shlok Kumar said that the court and jail authorities were officially informed about the decision to invoke NSA against the builder. Police sources added the "NSA was invoked to prevent any further threat to public safety".

"Despite residents' strong objection, Sunil Chen, along with his aides, started unauthorised excavation and construction in the area that ill-fated morning. Five houses collapsed and nearly half-a-dozen more developed cracks. Totaram, 35; Yashoda, 6; and Kajal, 4; died after they were buried under the rubble. Some people were also injured...," district magistrate CP Singh added