Ratlam police seized firecrackers worth more than Rs 2.5 lakh from two residential properties during raids on Friday night, booking two men for allegedly storing or selling the material without the required licences and safety arrangements ahead of upcoming festivals.
The largest seizure took place at a house in Chhatri village, under the Bilpank police station limits. Police said a substantial quantity of firecrackers had been stored in a shop built on the residential premises. Additional Superintendent of Police Rakesh Pandro led a police team that conducted the raid at about 10 pm.
The house owner, identified as Ishwarlal Kumawat, was asked to produce a licence permitting the storage or sale of firecrackers. According to police, Kumawat said he had applied for a licence but could not produce a valid document during the inspection. The entire stock was subsequently seized.
Kumawat estimated the value of the recovered firecrackers at between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh. Police said the actual value could be higher because of the quantity recovered. The material had been stored inside a house surrounded by other residential properties, prompting officials to shift the seized stock late at night to a secure warehouse away from the city.
In a separate operation, CSP Satyendra Ghanghoria and personnel from Station Road police raided a house on Power House Road. They seized firecrackers estimated to be worth around Rs 9,500 from Sanjay Agrawal, who was also unable to produce a licence authorising the storage or sale of the material.
Police have registered cases against both men for allegedly storing explosive material without the required permission and safety arrangements in densely populated residential areas. The action highlights the immediate safety concerns created when combustible and explosive festival stock is kept in homes or shops located among other residences.
Pandro said police action against unauthorised storage of firecrackers would continue in view of the upcoming festivals. The seized material from both locations will remain under official control as the cases proceed.
