Police on Thursday arrested 18-year-old Adil, son of Naushad, owner of the illegal firecracker factory in Kaushambi where 14 people, including nine children, were killed in a powerful explosion on August 31.
Adil suffered bullet injuries in both legs during an alleged encounter and was admitted to a medical college, police said.
In retaliatory firing, he was injured in both legs. He will be produced before a court after treatment. Meanwhile, police registered another FIR against Naushad for allegedly opening fire at a police team during Tuesday’s encounter. Charwa SHO Vinay Kumar Singh lodged the case, alleging that a bullet fired by Naushad narrowly missed him when police attempted to arrest him near Kazipur turn on the Syed Sarawan-Terahmil road. An attempt to murder case has been added to cases already registered against him.
The arrest came two days after police apprehended Naushad, 50, following an encounter in which he was also injured in the leg. DSP (Chayal) Shivank Singh said a joint team of Pipri police and the special operations group (SOG) intercepted Adil, who carried a reward of ₹ 25,000 for his arrest, near the Kamalpur Barethi canal bridge early Thursday. A .315-bore country-made pistol, one live cartridge and two spent cartridges were allegedly recovered from him. The August 31 blast case was registered at Pipri police station under Sections 105 and 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and provisions of the Explosives Act.
Police said Adil allegedly opened fire while attempting to escape after being surrounded. Adil admitted during preliminary questioning to manufacturing and storing illegal firecrackers and explosive material with family members and associates for financial gain, according to police.
