Police have seized large quantities of illegal firecrackers and explosives in Gonda and Shahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. In Gonda, police seized around 800 kilograms of illegally stored firecrackers and arrested two people. Officials provided the information Tuesday.
Manikapur SHO Santosh Kumar Mishra said three people were killed in an explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in a house in Gonda. Since then, senior leaders have issued instructions to carry out special operations against illegal manufacturing and storage of firecrackers. Police conducted raids in Rajendra Nagar and Shastri Nagar areas and recovered 7.63 quintal firecrackers from the possession of Durgesh Kasoudhan and 45 kg firecrackers from another person named Anjani alias Shalu.
Also Read – Illegal firecracker factory explodes in Gonda, UP, killing 2, injuring 3
Explosives stored in tents
A flight information report (FIR) has been registered against the duo under the Explosives Act. In Shahjahanpur, police discovered illegally stored explosive materials in a warehouse in Khudaganj area. Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police (rural) Manoj Kumar Awasthi said he received information that a large number of explosives such as firecrackers and bombs were illegally stored in the tent of Ashutosh Gupta, a resident of the town, for sale during Diwali.
40 boxes full of explosives seized
When the tent warehouse in front of the branch magistrate was opened on Monday night, 40 large boxes filled with various explosives were found inside, which had been confiscated. Awasti said the police have registered a case against the accused under the Explosives Act. The accused is absconding and efforts are on to arrest him. Directives were issued to ban illegal sale, storage and manufacturing of firecrackers after an explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Bareilly last week killed six people.
