Prayagraj: In the wake of an illegal firecracker unit blast that killed 14 people,Kaushambi police have seized 3,500 kg of packed firecrackers and 172 kg of raw material used in cracker manufacturing and arrested 17 people in a week as part of a crackdown on illegal firecracker manufacturing and storage. Police have also registered 10 FIRs at Sarayakil, Mahewaghat, Kada Dham, Karari, Sandipan Ghat, Saini and Pipri police stations in connection with illegal firecracker storage.The seized stock included bombs, rockets, anar, chakri, sky shots, missiles, chatai and sutli crackers.The biggest haul was made by Sarayakil police, which seized 30.60 quintal of firecrackers and 19 kg of raw material after arresting three people allegedly involved in illegal storage and manufacturing. Similarly, Mahewa Ghat police arrested three men for illegally storing 22 kg of firecrackers and 55 kg of raw material during the drive.Kada Dham police claimed to have arrested four people and seized 156 kg of firecrackers and 62 kg of raw material, while Karari police nabbed a man and seized 30 kg of firecrackers from his possession.During searches, police also recovered around 2 quintal of firecrackers and 36 kg of raw material used for manufacturing firecrackers from the Sandipan Ghat, Pipri and Saini areas. Police said all 17 accused admitted that they did not possess licences to store or sell firecrackers.Kaushambi police got a major breakthrough on Monday when they arrested a man who allegedly supplied firecrackers at inflated prices to Kaushambi-based stockists and sellers, including Naushad and his family members, the owners of the Manauri firecracker unit where the recent explosion claimed 14 lives.The accused, identified as Shoaib of Shahganj in Prayagraj, allegedly used to bring firecracker consignments from a Tamil Nadu-based firm and supply them to Kaushambi and other adjoining districts.Besides, police said illegal manufacturers were also procuring explosive materials from Hapur to manufacture firecrackers.Police said Shoaib’s father, Aleem, had a licence to store firecrackers, but it was suspended by the authorities after a case was registered against them by Naini police for overstocking.All six persons named in the FIR in connection with the Aug 31 blast have been arrested. They were booked under Sections 105 and 288 of BNS and Sections 4,5 and 9B of Explosives Act.Police have also issued a mobile number, 9454177553, appealing to residents to share information about illegal manufacturing and storage of firecrackers. Police said the identities of informants would be kept secret.
