Sixth and final accused in UP illegal cracker factory blast arrested after encounter

Police in Uttar Pradesh have arrested the sixth and final named accused in the illegal cracker factory blast in Kaushambi that killed 14 people on August 31.

Shakil was arrested around 9 p.m. on Friday after a joint team from Manjhanpur police and the Special Operations Group received information that he was trying to flee. Officials said police stopped him while he was riding a motorcycle, after which he allegedly opened fire. He suffered a bullet injury to his left leg during the retaliatory firing.

Police said they recovered a country-made pistol, a live cartridge and the motorcycle. Shakil was taken to the district hospital for treatment, with further legal proceedings to follow. The district administration also demolished his house in Mahmoodpur village in the presence of police.

Earlier on Friday, authorities increased the reward for information leading to his arrest from ₹25,000 to ₹50,000. Prayagraj Range Inspector General of Police Ajay Mishra approved the increase, Kaushambi Superintendent of Police Satyanarayan Prajapat said.

The blast occurred at a cracker factory in Manauri town. Three people seriously injured in the incident remain under treatment at SRN Hospital in Prayagraj. Police registered a case against six people, including factory owner and operator Naushad, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Explosives Act.

The other accused were Naushad, his wife Kahkashan Bano, their son Adil, and Shakil’s wife Shabana and daughter Saina. Police said all five had already been arrested. Authorities previously demolished Naushad’s three-storey house, a factory godown in Mahmoodpur and another godown in Muratganj market.

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The reward was enhanced by Prayagraj Range Inspector General of Police Ajay Mishra.