: Police have uncovered illegal firecracker storage and manufacturing activities in Pratapgarh and Kaushambi during intensified inspections following the August 31 firecracker factory blast in Kaushambi that claimed 14 lives, including nine minors.
The action was taken during an inspection conducted under the direction of SDM Ajay Kumar Yadav and CO Manoj Raghuvanshi. Police reached the firecracker factory of Mohd Hamza, a resident of Maghi Chaingadh village, to verify his licence. The licence issued for the factory had expired, and Hamza was allegedly operating the business without renewing it. During a search of the premises, police found a large quantity of different types of firecrackers. A case was registered against Hamza and he was sent to court after completion of the legal procedure. He, along with police personnel, raided the house of Manoj Kumar Kesarwani, a resident of the local market. The seized firecrackers were rendered harmless and a case was registered under the Explosives Act.
In Kaushambi, police also seized around 35 kg of firecrackers allegedly stored illegally at a house in the local market and arrested the accused. Around 35 kg of firecrackers packed in three plastic sacks were recovered from a storeroom at the house.
The seized material was later rendered harmless, police said. SHO Sandeep Tripathi said legal action was being taken against the accused after a case was registered. Kesarwani allegedly did not have a licence to store firecrackers, police said. The accused was subsequently sent to judicial custody, police said.
In Pratapgarh, police on Wednesday arrested a youth for allegedly running a firecracker business without a valid licence. Muratganj police post in-charge Kumar Shankaram said on Wednesday that he was on patrol late Tuesday evening when he received information from an informer about the illegal storage.
