PRAYAGRAJ, Sept. 18 -- The police intensified a district-wide campaign against the illegal manufacture, storage, and sale of firecrackers in the wake of the firecracker factory explosion in Kaushambi on August 31.

According to Kaushambi superintendent of police (SP) Satyanarayan Prajapat, raids conducted across seven police station jurisdictions resulted in the registration of 11 cases and lodging of FIRs against 18 accused persons.

During the special enforcement drive, police teams seized around 35 quintals of firecrackers and 172 kilograms of gunpowder. Raids were carried out in markets, residential areas, and other locations suspected of illegal firecracker-related activities.

"We are still carrying out search operations all over th...