Lucknow: As part of a crackdown on illegal firecracker storage, Balrampur Police raided two premises in the densely populated Chudi Market-Tedhi Bazaar and Govindbagh areas and seized 520 kg of fireworks packed in 20 sacks.
Police said Ahmed was found storing 120 kg of firecrackers without a licence, while Raees was allegedly in possession of 400 kg. The raids were carried out on Sept 1 by a team from Kotwali Nagar police station. Two separate cases have been registered under Section 288 of the BNS and Section 9B of the Explosives Act, 1884. They received information that Sagheer Ahmed (65) was illegally storing and selling firecrackers from his house-cum-shop in Chudi Market-Tedhi Bazaar, according to police. During a search, police recovered six sacks containing various types of firecrackers weighing a total of 120 kg. The search led to the recovery of 14 sacks containing 400 kg of firecrackers.
Police said the seized firecrackers have been shifted to a safe location and will be disposed of or neutralised in accordance with safety protocols. Two shop operators, Sagheer Ahmed and Mohammad Raees, were arrested during the operation. Acting on the tip-off, a police team reached the premises and asked that it be opened. A man allegedly attempted to flee on seeing the police but was apprehended and identified as Ahmed. In a separate operation, police raided the premises of Mohammad Raees in Govindbagh following another tip-off.