Man arrested with illegal firecrackers and manufacturing equipment in Pratapgarh

Maheshganj police have arrested a 28-year-old man with a large quantity of illegal firecrackers and equipment used in their preparation as part of an ongoing crackdown against unlawful sale and storage of explosives in Pratapgarh district.

The accused has been identified as Mohammad Hamza, son of Khalil Ahmad, a resident of Maghi Chaingarh village under Maheshganj police station jurisdiction. He was apprehended near his village following a tip-off from an informer while police were conducting checks on firecracker shops and inspecting suspicious individuals and vehicles on September 8.

Police recovered five phunta firecrackers, one kurkari, seven party paper firecrackers and 2,650 mirchi firecrackers from the possession of the accused. In addition to the explosive materials, officers also seized one weighing scale, an iron sieve and five bowls of varying sizes, indicating that Hamza was likely involved in the manufacturing or repacking of firecrackers.

Based on the recovery and arrest, a case has been registered at Maheshganj police station as FIR number 227/2026 under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 5/9(b) 1(a) of the Explosives Act, 1884. All seized materials have been deposited at a secure location as per procedure.

The police team that carried out the operation comprised Senior Sub-Inspector Neeraj Singh Kushwaha, Head Constable Satyapal Singh, Constable Sunil Kumar, Constable Anil Rajput and Reserve Constable Suraj Kumar. The authorities continue their drive to check illegal firecracker activities in the area ahead of the festival season.