Illegal Firecrackers Worth Over Rs 20 Lakh Seized In Odisha’s Balasore

Balasore: In a crackdown on illegal firecracker manufacturing units, police have seized crackers worth over Rs 20 lakh at a village in Jaleswar area of Odisha’s Balasore district on Wednesday.

The seizure was made during raids on three locations at Salikotha village of Aruha panchayat under Jaleswar police limits in the district, sources said.

Two persons have been detained in this connection and police have launched a thorough investigation.

A team from Jaleswar police station carried out the raids at the illegal units leading to the huge cache of seizure and detention of at least two manufacturing unit owners, said a senior police official.

The raids were carried out simultaneously at three different locations in the village.

The detained persons were identified as Prafulla Behera and Bulia Khatua.

The value of the seized firecrackers would be more than Rs 20 lakh in the open market, the official said.