Prayagraj: The death toll in the Kaushambi illegal firecracker factory explosion mounted to 13 on Tuesday, even as the prime accused was arrested following an early morning exchange of fire with the police.Police said critically injured Rajesh Kumar (45), a resident of Madpur Manauri, succumbed to his injuries during treatment. During search operations in nearby areas, police also recovered some splintered body parts, which were collected for DNA sampling. Family members of Sunil Kumar, a worker at a nearby bundi factory, claimed that the body parts belonged to him. Police said no one else has been reported missing so far.Taking cognisance of the incident, IG (Prayagraj range) Ajay Kumar Mishra suspended seven policemen, including an SHO and six sub-inspectors, for allegedly allowing the firecracker unit to operate illegally despite its licence having been suspended in 2024.While zeroing in on the accused, Naushad Ali (35), a joint team of Charwa police and SOG received information about Naushad’s movement near Kazipur turn as he was allegedly trying to escape from the town. The police team surrounded him and asked him to surrender, but he opened fire twice at the police party. In retaliation, the cops also fired, leaving the accused injured. Police recovered a country-made pistol of 0.315 bore, one live cartridge, two used cartridges and Rs 500 from his possession. He was later admitted to the district hospital in Manjhanpur.Naushad, a resident of Mahmoodpur, confessed to police that he, along with his partners, was storing firecrackers illegally at a godown near Manauri power house. When he learnt that an explosion had taken place at the godown, he fled.Police said Naushad had obtained a licence for firecracker manufacturing and storage in Nov 2021 for five years, which was valid till Mar 31, 2026. A joint team of the administration and police inspected the site and detected irregularities at the godown, following which the licence was suspended in Apr 2024.However, Naushad continued to illegally store firecrackers. In Oct 2024, after the concerned station officer learnt of the unit’s illegal operation, he registered a case against Naushad under relevant sections and sent him to jail. After being released on bail, Naushad resumed the illegal manufacture, sale, and storage of firecrackers.After the IG learnt that seven police officials, including an inspector and six sub-inspectors, who had served either as station officers at Pipri police station or as in-charges of Chail police outpost between Oct 2024 and Aug 2026, failed to take action against the accused despite the illegal operation of the unit, he ordered their suspension.The suspended officials include inspector Shivcharan Ram and sub-inspectors Vikas Singh, Vinay Singh, Ajeet Kumar Singh, Abhishek Gupta, Manish Pal and Amit Dwivedi.With this, nine policemen, including an SHO, six SIs and two beat constables, have been suspended so far in connection with the case.A joint team of police and administration has launched a crackdown against illegal firecracker manufacturing units in Kaushambi district. Reports said there are a total of 17 licensed units, and cops are verifying their credentials.A stockpile of explosive material turned a firecracker factory operating from a house in Kaushambi district into a death trap Monday, killing 11 people, including eight children, and critically injuring five after a chain of explosions tore through the building and neighbouring homes. Four of the children killed belonged to the same family.The blast in Manauri Bazaar area along Kaushambi-Prayagraj district border at 11am also trapped and injured more than 16 people across 4-5 nearby houses, police said. The impact damaged at least five homes and shattered window panes in several more.The unit near agricultural fields had stored large quantities of explosive material without following safety norms, according to an FIR filed by family members of victims. The structure and at least five adjoining houses were owned by brothers Naushad and Shakeel. None of the owners’ family members was among those killed or injured.Initial investigation found that Kahkasha Bano, wife of Naushad Ali and a resident of Mahmoodpur, had obtained a manufacturing and storage licence on Jul 5, 2023, valid until Mar 31, 2028.A case under relevant sections of BNS and Explosives Act was registered against six people — Naushad, Shakeel, their wives Kahkasha and Sabana, Naushad’s son Adil and Shaqeel’s daughter Syna. According to sources, NSA will also be invoked against the accused.
