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Five killed in blast at illegal firecracker factory in Punjab’s Muktsar

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Chandigarh, May 30: At least five people were killed and 34 injured on Friday in a blast at a double-storey illegal firecracker factory located on the outskirts of a village in Punjab’s Muktsar district, police said.

Most of the victims were migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The factory, owned by Tarsem Singh, who is associated with the state-ruled AAP, in Singhwala village, was reduced to rubble owing to the intensity of the blast, trapping many under debris.

According to the police, the blast occurred at midnight. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, and most of them were stated to be out of danger.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Muktsar Sahib, Akhil Chaudhary, said the blast occurred in one of the rooms in the manufacturing setup of the unit, which led to the collapse of the roof.

Many people got trapped under the debris, and rescue operations were launched immediately after the police received information about the incident.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Jaspal Singh said five bodies had been recovered from the debris, and 29 injured individuals were rushed to AIIMS Bathinda and hospitals in Muktsar.

Rescue teams were still on the scene, working to clear the rubble and search for survivors, if any.

The exact cause of the blast is being worked out, but initial investigation suggests that the blast occurred from potash used in manufacturing crackers.

Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Abhijit Kaplish told the media that no permission was granted to the manufacturing unit under the Explosives Rules of 2008.

“An application was made by the owners, but reports from different departments were pending, so no permission was granted,” he clarified.

Scattered shoes, broken glass panes and vehicles were seen all over the accident spot, as rescuers were sifting through the rubble in search of survivors.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal has demanded a probe into the incident and urged the government to promptly release adequate compensation to the victims’ families.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Khudian said the factory owner is a supporter of the AAP, but that does not permit anyone to engage in illegal activity.

“The law will take its own course,” he added.

In 2020, a total of 23 people were killed and 27 were injured in the explosion in an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Punjab’s Batala town. It was manufacturing and storing crackers for a ‘nagar kirtan’ — a religious procession relating to the birth anniversary celebrations of Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak Dev.

A similar blast occurred in Batala in January 2017, leaving one person dead and three injured.

Crime

Mumbai: Sakinaka Police Foil Smuggling Attempt Of Rare Baby Gibbons

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Thane: In a major crackdown against wildlife trafficking, the Sakinaka Police successfully foiled an attempt to illegally smuggle two rare gibbon chicks on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, the police team laid a trap and apprehended the accused while they were in possession of the endangered animals.

According to a social media X post by Mumbai Police, “Both the accused and the rescued animals have been handed over to the Forest Range Officer, Thane, for further action.”

The gibbon chicks were found unharmed and are now under proper care and rehabilitation by forest authorities. The accused are in police custody, with legal proceedings underway.

This incident follows recent seizures by Mumbai Airport Customs in August, where nearly 70 exotic wildlife animals smuggled from Bangkok were recovered in two separate cases.

Officials said some of these animals belong to endangered species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Two individuals involved in the trafficking were arrested, highlighting continued vigilance against illegal wildlife trade.

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Crime

Driver Of Puja Khedkar’s Father Arrested By Navi Mumbai Police In Road Rage Incident

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The Navi Mumbai police have arrested the driver of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar’s father in connection with the road rage incident in which a truck driver was abducted last week, a senior official said on Saturday.

Puja Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, who is also wanted in the case, is still absconding, police said.

According to the police, the incident occurred on September 13 on the Mulund-Airoli Road in Navi Mumbai after a concrete mixer truck driven by Prahlad Kumar (22) brushed against a Land Cruiser car, leading to an argument between him and two occupants of the four-wheeler.

The investigation revealed that Dilip Khedkar and his driver, Praful Salunkhe, bundled Kumar into the SUV and took him to the Khedkar bungalow in Pune.

Police tracked the SUV to Pune based on technical analysis and rescued the truck driver from the bungalow even as Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama, obstructed their entry.

“We have arrested Khedkar’s driver Praful Salunkhe, who was involved in the abduction,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Dahane said.

The Rabale police have registered a case under section 137(2) (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused, including Dilip Khedkar, who is absconding.

The Pune police have also registered a case against Manorama Khedkar, the mother of Puja Khedkar, for allegedly obstructing the police and issued a notice.

Puja Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting facts in her application for the 2022 UPSC civil services examination to avail herself of reservation benefits. She has refuted all the allegations against her.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has initiated a series of actions against Khedkar, including lodging a criminal case for attempting to take the civil services exam by faking her identity. Delhi Police had lodged an FIR against her for various offences.

After the controversy erupted over Puja Khedkar’s appointment as a probationary IAS officer, a video surfaced last year in which her mother was seen threatening a farmer. Manorama Khedkar was subsequently arrested and later released on bail.

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Crime

Mumbai Crime: Malad Police Nab 34-Year-Old Woman In ₹2 Crore Overseas Job Scam

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Mumbai: The Malad police on September 15 arrested a 34-year-old woman who had been wanted for the past four months in connection with a multi-crore overseas job fraud.

The accused, identified as Ekta Avinash Ayre, also known as Drishti or Manisha, allegedly set up a bogus company in a Malad shopping mall and cheated at least 38 unemployed men of around Rs 2 crore by promising them jobs abroad.

According to police officers, Ayre and her two absconding accomplices, Aman Kamlamiya Sheikh and Jigneshkumar Rathwa, opened an office in Malad and heavily advertised on social media, offering jobs in Gulf countries for positions such as kitchen staff, drivers, housekeeping staff, storekeepers and security guards in reputed hotels.

The gang posted fake positive reviews online and provided a link for applicants to register. Many job seekers from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune and other cities applied online or in person, submitting their passports along with fees for registration, visas, medical tests and other charges.

Within days, the victims received appointment letters and visas by email. However, after verification, the documents were found to be fake. When some of the victims rushed to the Malad office, they discovered that the company had been shut down and the accused had fled. Each candidate had reportedly paid between Rs 4.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Following complaints from about 38 victims, the Malad police registered a case of cheating and embezzlement against the accused.

Senior Police Inspector Drushyant Chavan said he directed the crime team to track down the absconding suspects. During a special operation, Ayre was located and arrested. Interrogation revealed that some of the defrauded money had been transferred to her bank account, confirming her direct involvement in the crime.

Ayre had earlier applied for anticipatory bail in the sessions court, but her plea was rejected. She was produced before the Borivali magistrate court and remanded to judicial custody. The case was filed in May 2025. 

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