Cuttack: Police seized crackers worth several lakhs during raids at Padmapur, Trilochanpur and Kazi Bazar areas in Jagatpur police station area in the district early on Saturday. Three persons were also arrested for alleged illegal trading of crackers.
Acting on a tip-off about the illegal trading of crackers, a team of Jagatpur police led by the additional commissioner of police (ACP) raided the Hatikhana, Islampur, Trilochanpur and Mutarifa villages.
During the raid, police detained one pick-up van transporting illegal firecrackers and arrested Kailash Samal of Purbakachha village and Laxmidhar Rout of Mutarifa village under Jagatpur police limits and Deepak Rout (driver) of Marchia village under Nandankanan police limits.
Police later seized 9 kgs of gunpowder, 4 kgs of potash, firecrackers worth about Rs five lakhs and raw materials for making firecrackers.
Police later registered a case under section 286 of the IPC and 9(B) of the Indian Explosive Act and 4 and 5 of the Indian Explosive Substance Act. The three arrested persons will be forwarded to the court later in the day.
On October 19, police had seized firecrackers worth over Rs 50 lakh during raids at Trilochanpur and Mahajanpur and arrested 12 persons in this regard.
