The Jaipur city police on Tuesday arrested the alleged owner of a building that was used for illegal firecracker manufacturing and storage, following a devastating explosion and fire that claimed eight lives earlier this month in the Kho Nagoriyan area. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Alok Singhal identified the accused as Qayoom Khan, 50.
“He had rented out the building for the illegal firecracker-related works,” Singhal added. SHO of Kho Nagoriyan police station, Prakash Ram, stated that the arrest was made in connection with the June 9 explosion and fire at an illegally operated firecracker unit functioning from Talai under the Kho Nagoriyan police station limits. “The accused also allegedly played a key role in providing logistical support and arranging labor for the operation,” he said.
The blaze and subsequent explosions resulted in the deaths of eight people and brought renewed scrutiny on the illegal manufacture and storage of explosive materials in residential neighborhoods. Police investigations revealed that the building where the incident occurred belonged to Khan, who had allegedly allowed it to be used for illegal firecracker-related activities.
Special Investigation Team Formed
Given the seriousness of the case, a special investigation team was constituted under the supervision of Additional DCP Alok Singhal. The team was led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Malviya Nagar) Vinod Sharma and included personnel from the Khoh Nagoriyan police station and the District Special Team (DST). According to investigators, Khan, along with co-accused Yakub Khan and Firoz, fled to Delhi after the explosion.
Police said that intelligence inputs, technical surveillance, and field investigations helped track the accused. Investigators are working to determine the exact role of all those involved in the operation of the illegal unit and are also examining whether the accused had links to earlier cases involving the unlawful storage or manufacture of firecrackers. Authorities confirmed that efforts are continuing to trace and arrest the remaining accused.
