Illegal firecracker factory busted in Pratapgarh, one arrested

A police and administration team has arrested one person and recovered a large quantity of illegal firecrackers and manufacturing equipment during a raid on an unlicensed firecracker factory in Pratapgarh district's Maheshganj area. The operation was part of an intensified checking drive launched across the district following the Kaushambi firecracker incident.

The joint team conducted the raid at a former licensed firecracker factory located in village Maghi Chaingarh, where firecrackers were being illegally stored and manufactured despite the lapse of the factory's license. Police arrested Mohammad Hamza, son of Khalil Ahmad, a resident of Maghi Chaingarh under Maheshganj police station jurisdiction, aged approximately 28 years, from the premises.

According to police, the checking campaign is being conducted under the directions of the Inspector General of Police, Prayagraj Range, and covers establishments and premises of license holders from the past 20 years across the district. The Maheshganj police carried out the intensive checking of the firecracker factory under the leadership of Circle Officer Sadar Manoj Kumar Singh Raghuvanshi and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kunda, following instructions from Superintendent of Police Pratapgarh Deepak Bhukar and District Magistrate Abhishek Pandey.

During the investigation, information was received that firecrackers were being illegally stored and manufactured at the former licensed firecracker factory in Maghi Chaingarh. It was revealed that the factory's license had not been renewed and was therefore not currently valid.

Police recovered a substantial quantity of firecrackers from the accused's possession, including 05 phunta firecrackers, 01 kurkari, 07 party paper firecrackers, and 2,650 mirchi firecrackers. Additionally, equipment used in firecracker manufacturing was seized, comprising one weighing scale, one iron sieve, and five bowls of various sizes. According to police, the recovered firecrackers were disposed of as per regulations.

A case has been registered at Maheshganj police station bearing FIR number 227/2026 under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 5/9(b) 1(a) of the Explosives Act, 1884. Necessary legal action is being taken against the arrested accused.

The police team that conducted the operation included Senior Sub-Inspector Neeraj Singh Kushwaha, Head Constable Satyapal Singh, Constable Sunil Kumar, Anil Rajput, and Reserve Constable Suraj Kumar.