Jharsuguda, Sept 19: The Brajarajnagar police in Jharsuguda district have intensified their crackdown on illegal firecracker trading under the special drive, ‘Operation Agni’.
During the raids, police arrested Pawan Sharma of Lamtibahal for allegedly stocking a large cache of firecrackers at his residence without authorisation and selling them illegally. The seized stock has been estimated at around Rs2 lakh, confirmed Brajarajnagar SDPO Chintamani Pradhan while briefing the media.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway. Police stated that Sharma confessed to having procured the firecrackers for last year’s Diwali.
The seizure has caused a stir across Brajarajnagar, with many illegal traders reportedly growing anxious about further raids. Sources said several individuals who had stored firecrackers in their homes are now living in fear of police action.