Raid on illegal cracker manufacturing units

BHUBANESWAR: IN the aftermath of explosions at illegal cracker manufacturing units in Balasore and Pipili, Odisha Police on Thursday conducted raids on unauthorised fireworks processing units across the State.

Nearly 11 persons lost their lives in an explosion at an illegal cracker manufacturing unit in Balasore, and a 4-year-old girl died of burn injuries in a blast at a unit in Pipili. Similarly, one person died in an explosion at a fire cracker vending zone in Rourkela on Wednesday. The traders in Rourkela had opened shops ahead of Diwali though they did not have no-objection certificates. The cops failed to check irregularities which could have averted major fire accidents in the State.

Police informed that raids were carried out at about 550 illegal cracker manufacturing units and unlicensed shops across the State on Thursday and 64 persons were apprehended.Ganjam police conducted raids at 108 illegal cracker manufacturing units along with unlicensed shops and registered 22 cases. Raids were also conducted in Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj and Balasore. “After the raids, 210 cases were registered and 99 prosecution reports were submitted,” Odisha Police said. Commissionerate Police also conducted raids on illegal cracker making units and shops in the Capital and nabbed two persons.