PRAYAGRAJ, Sept. 1 -- The owner of the alleged illegal firecracker factory in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district, where a powerful explosion killed 11 people, including eight children, on Monday, was arrested after a police encounter early on Tuesday even as seven police personnel were suspended for their alleged negligence in preventing the illegal functioning of the unit where no fresh injured person or body was recovered despite nearly nine hours of rescue efforts by SDRF and NDRF personnel, officials said. Later, two other family members of the cracker factory owner were also arrested, they added.

Meanwhile, Kaushambi police have also announced a reward of Rs.25,000 each for the arrest of the absconding wife, son and brother of firec...