Nagpur: A series of deadly blasts at ammunition and explosives manufacturing units in the Bazargaon and Kalmeshwar areas over past few years highlighted stark disparities in police response, igniting a heated debate on favouritism.The latest incident occurred on March 1 at SBL Energy Limited in Raulgaon village, Kalmeshwar taluka, where a massive blast killed 19 workers and counting.The explosion ripped through the Nonel crimping plant shortly after the morning shift began, engulfing the facility in flames. Nagpur rural police swiftly arrested 9 directors of the company under non-bailable Section 105 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), registering a case against 21 directors and shareholders. This rapid operation, including high-level probes ordered by the state govt, contrasts sharply with previous incidents, which were equally horrific.In December 2023, a blast at an ammunition manufacturing unit in Bazargaon claimed 9 lives and injured several others. Police filed an FIR against unidentified persons under bailable IPC Sections 304(a) (causing death by negligence) and 286 (negligent conduct with explosives), with actions limited to supervisory and managerial levels.Similarly, a June 2024 explosion at Chamundi Explosives Pvt Ltd in Dhamna killed 6 workers, leading to the arrest of the director and manager under non-bailable charges. A September 2025 blast at another unit in Bazargaon resulted in 1 death and multiple injuries, but no high-profile arrests were made.Legal excerpts, including Opposition leaders and labour rights activists, argued that the varying legal approaches reflected bias. “Why non-bailable charges and swift arrests in some cases, while others get lenient, bailable sections? It tilts towards the high and mighty who are politically connected,” said an expert.State police officials defended the actions, citing case-specific evidence and safety audits. However, with casualties mounting, the govt announced ex-gratia payments of ₹5 lakh per family from the state and ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF. As investigations continue, the debate underscores deeper concerns about industrial safety and equitable justice in Maharashtra’s explosives sections.
