Jaipur, February 18 – The owner and manager of an illegal firecracker factory in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, where seven people were killed in an explosion, have been arrested by the police.
The accused, Hemant Kumar Sharma, the factory owner, and his manager Abhinandan, have been identified.
Hemant is the brother of Yogesh Kumar Sharma, a head constable with the Bhiwadi Police DST team, according to officials on Wednesday.
The explosion occurred in the Khuskheda Industrial Area on Monday while illegal firecrackers were being manufactured.
Seven people, including a contractor, died in the incident, while four others sustained serious burns.
Bhiwadi Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Atul Sahu said that a police team raided the Ghaziabad residence of plot owner Rajendra Kumar, the third accused in the case, on Monday night. His family informed the police that Rajendra is suffering from a brain tumor and is undergoing treatment.
On Tuesday, his family submitted a written assurance at the Khuskheda police station that they would produce him before the police. If he fails to appear on Thursday, police will conduct further raids to arrest him.
Police have registered a case against four people: factory owner Hemant Kumar, manager Abhinandan, plot owner Rajendra Kumar, and contractor Ajit. Hemant and Abhinandan have been arrested, Rajendra Kumar is currently undergoing treatment, while contractor Ajit died in the explosion.
Ajit's body will be handed over to the family after DNA testing and a post-mortem examination by a medical board. Following the explosion, police sealed the illegal factory and a nearby warehouse. On Tuesday, another illegal firecracker factory and warehouse located about 500 meters from the blast site were also sealed.
Both units were reportedly owned by Hemant Kumar Sharma. Large quantities of illegal firecrackers, raw materials, and manufacturing machines were recovered.
Police said that machines were installed to produce firecrackers on a large scale, indicating organized illegal manufacturing operations.
Investigations are ongoing, and further action is expected in the case.