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Kaushambi blast toll 13, cracker unit owner among 3 held; 7 cops suspended
₹25K reward announced for 3 absconding accused; process begins to invoke NSA against all six accused
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The owner of the alleged illegal firecracker factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district, where a powerful explosion killed 11 people, including eight children, on Monday, was arrested after a police encounter early on Tuesday even as seven police personnel were suspended for their alleged negligence in preventing the illegal functioning of the unit where no fresh injured person was recovered despite nearly nine hours of rescue efforts by SDRF and NDRF personnel, officials said. Later, two other family members of the cracker factory owner were also arrested, they added.
Meanwhile, Kaushambi police have also announced a reward of ₹25,000 each for the arrest of the absconding wife, son and brother of firecracker factory owner Naushad who ran the illegal unit in Chilla Shahbazi village, they added.
With CM Yogi Adityanath taking a serious view of the incident, the district administration has also begun preparations to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against all six named accused.
The death toll in Monday’s blast rose to 13 on Tuesday after a 50-year-old victim died during treatment at SRN Hospital, officials said. Rajesh Kumar, who was on ventilator support, breathed his last at around 1 pm despite intensive treatment and life-saving measures by doctors, the hospital administration said.
Five injured people had been admitted to the hospital following the blast. The condition of another patient on ventilator support remains critical, while the remaining three are stable. Meanwhile, remains of another body were recovered from the debris at the blast site. An elderly man claimed that the remains were those of his son Sunil. Police sent the recovered remains to the post-mortem house for examination and identification.
Chail circle officer Shivank Singh said police received information that Naushad was in Kaushambi’s Saiyad Sarawan area and subsequently launched a search operation.
A police team intercepted him around 4am when he was allegedly trying to flee. Naushad allegedly opened fire at the team when he was surrounded, following which the police team retaliated and a bullet hit him in the leg. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. An illegal country-made pistol and cartridges were recovered from his possession, he said.
Police said Naushad had been absconding since the blast at the factory in Manauri market area under Pipri police station limits along the Prayagraj-Kaushambi border around noon on August 31. The explosion triggered a fire and a series of blasts of stored firecrackers. Its impact was reportedly heard nearly two kilometres away. Five of around a dozen people injured in the blast are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Prayagraj in serious condition.
Police are now investigating Naushad’s movements after the blast and identifying people who allegedly helped him hide or flee. He is likely to be questioned about the operation of the factory and storage of explosive material there.
A named FIR has been registered against Naushad, his wife Kahkasha Bano, son Adil, brother Shakeel, sister-in-law Shabana and niece Saina for allegedly manufacturing and storing firecrackers on a large scale illegally inside a residential premises without adequate safety measures.
The case was registered against the six late on Monday evening under Sections 105 and 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 4, 5 and 9B of the Explosives Act, 1884, at Pipri police station on a complaint by Gaya Prasad Sahu, a resident of Chilla Shahbazi village.
After Naushad, Shabana and Saina have also been arrested, while Kahkasha, Adil and Shakeel are still absconding. Kaushambi SP Satyanarayan Prajapat said four police teams were conducting raids at suspected hideouts to arrest the three accused.
The SP appealed to people to provide information about the wanted accused to the nearest police station or district control room. He said the identity of informants would be kept confidential.
District magistrate Amit Pal Sharma said the action would be initiated in consultation with the SP. He said police had started preparing the necessary documentation.
According to the DM, the NSA process would be initiated when the accused approach the court for bail and a report would subsequently be sent to the state government. A committee constituted by the government would take the final decision on whether to confirm the detention under the NSA.
Moreover, seven police personnel, including an inspector and six sub-inspectors, were suspended on Tuesday for their alleged negligence in preventing the illegal operation of the cracker unit.
Inspector general of police, Prayagraj range, Ajay Mishra ordered the suspension after a preliminary inquiry found lapses by personnel posted at Pipri police station and various outposts in the area.
Those suspended include inspector Shivcharan Ram, the then in-charge of Pipri police station, sub-inspector Vikas Singh, the then station house officer of Pipri; sub-inspector Vinay Singh, the then in-charge of Chayal outpost; sub-inspector Ajit Kumar Singh, former in-charge of Chayal outpost; sub-inspector Abhishek Gupta, former in-charge of Sirathu police outpost; sub-inspector Manish Pal, former in-charge of Chayal police outpost; and sub-inspector Amit Dwivedi, also a former Chayal police outpost in-charge.
The action came after it emerged that the unauthorised unit in Chhilla Shahbazi village, under Pipri police station, continued operating despite its permission having been suspended. Police said the unit had been granted permission for five years until March 31, 2026, but the permission was suspended on April 4, 2024, following irregularities.
According to police, a case had also been registered against Naushad at Pipri police station on October 9, 2024, for running the illegal firecracker unit, following which he was jailed. However, after his release, he allegedly resumed the illegal operation. All the police officials posted at the police station and the outpost concerned over the time failed to take action against the unit owner, said a police official.
Earlier on Monday night, Kaushambi SP Satyanarayan Prajapat also took action against five policemen, citing prima facie gross dereliction of duty. Pipri station in-charge Vikas Singh, Chayal outpost in-charge SI Amit Dwivedi and former Chayal outpost in-charge SI Manish Pal were sent to the police lines.
Beat constable Jitendra Kumar and constable Krishna Kumar were suspended for allegedly failing to record information related to the operation of the firecracker factory and for dereliction of duty. The IG-level action subsequently followed a review of the lapses and fixed responsibility on seven personnel.
