Prayagraj: The prime accused in the illegal firecracker unit blast in Kaushambi that claimed 14 lives had stockpiled around 20 quintals of explosive chemicals used in firecracker manufacturing just days before the incident, police investigations have revealed.Police said Naushad Ali procured raw materials from Prayagraj and Kunda in Pratapgarh through an extensive network of agents and stored them illegally in godowns near Manauri, Kokhraj, Pipri and adjoining areas. Investigators said his family members actively assisted him in running the operation.An official said that, ahead of the Aug 31 tragedy, Naushad had brought a large quantity of raw materials from Prayagraj to manufacture firecrackers for the upcoming Dussehra and Diwali festivals.Police sources said a major portion of the raw material was stored at the Manauri Bazaar unit.Naushad reportedly preferred to operate the unit during night hours, from 9 pm to 4 am, while workers locked themselves inside the premises to avoid police action. Investigators believe this is why no factory worker was killed in the blast, which occurred around 11 am.However, the explosion was so powerful that it completely flattened the illegal factory, left a deep crater at the site, and caused five houses within a 100-metre radius to collapse while damaging five others. Police said all 14 victims were residents of these neighbouring houses.According to police, Naushad had obtained a licence for the manufacture and storage of firecrackers in November 2021 for a five-year period, valid till March 31, 2026. However, a joint team of the administration and police detected irregularities during an inspection of the godown in April 2024, following which the licence was suspended.Despite this, Naushad allegedly continued operations illegally. In October 2024, police registered a case against him and sent him to jail.“When a joint team of police and administration conducted an inspection in October 2024, it seized nearly 1,200 kg of gunpowder and other explosive materials stored illegally at the facility,” said a senior police officer associated with the probe.After securing bail, Naushad allegedly resumed the business. The investigation further revealed that his son, Adil, and his brother were also involved in the operation. Police said he had set up two storehouses at separate locations.Naushad was arrested on Tuesday following a police encounter. Authorities have also seized three vehicles allegedly linked to the operation, including an SUV, a motorcycle and a DJ vehicle.Police teams are conducting raids to identify illegal storage and manufacturing units across the district. Authorities have also issued a helpline number, 9454177553, urging residents to share information about illegal firecracker manufacturing and storage activities.
