Jayapur: In a pre-Diwali crackdown on the illegal storage of firecrackers, Jayapur Town Police seized 22 boxes of explosive fireworks, valued at around Rs 3 lakh, from a residential building on NKT Road in Koraput district on Friday.
The seizure was made during a raid conducted at around 11 am following a tip-off about the illegal stockpiling of firecrackers on the upper floor of a house in the locality, Town Police Station Inspector Ullas Chandra Rout said.
A police team led by Sub-Inspector Gobinda Hansda, under the supervision of Inspector Rout, searched the premises and recovered 22 boxes containing different varieties of firecrackers.
The person responsible for storing the materials reportedly failed to produce a valid licence or official authorisation. Police seized the entire stock and shifted it to Jayapur Town Police Station.
Inspector Rout said unauthorised storage of such a large quantity of explosive materials in a densely populated residential area posed a serious threat to public safety.
With Diwali approaching, police have intensified surveillance and launched a special enforcement drive against the illegal storage and sale of firecrackers under the supervision of SDPO Archita Mittal.
Police are investigating the source of the seized consignment and the purpose of its storage. Surprise raids will continue across the town during the festive season to prevent safety hazards and maintain law and order, officials said.
