PATNA, Nov. 4 -- Following the death of five people in a recent blast at a firecracker factory in Siwan, wholesale firecracker traders in Patna City have started operating their shops through back doors, fearing raids by the local administration, as none of them has a licence to sell the items. "Sir, patakha chahiye, sir, patakha chahiye" (Sir, do you need firecrackers?) is the common refrain among staff of firecracker shops along Ashok Rajpath, from Paschim Darwaza to City Chowk. Fearing action by the district administration, firecracker shops that normally remain open have been shut. However, sales are continuing through the back door, with firecrackers being delivered to customers' homes or event venues after orders are placed at the shops. There are around 150 big and small firecracker shops in Patna City. With Diwali approaching, their numbers, including temporary outlets, have increased. The largest concentration of permanent and temporary shops is in areas such as Machharhatta, Gurhatta Chowk, Paschim Darwaza and Khajekalan. More than 150 temporary shops have also come up along the busy Ashok Rajpath. Shopkeepers said the local administration had intensified raids following the Siwan incident and was taking action against the sale and storage of firecrackers without licences. "After the Siwan incident, the local administration started raiding shops and sealing them, effectively banning the purchase and sale of firecrackers. Many shopkeepers purchase firecrackers throughout the year and stock them for weddings, events and Diwali. However, when we open small outlets to sell the crackers, the administration puts pressure on us and demands licences, even though it knows that all shops, including small outlets and wholesale traders, are operating without licences," shopkeepers said. Munna Kumar said firecracker prices had increased by 25% to 30% this year due to inflation. However, the price rise had not affected sales. "Despite the increase in prices, there has been no impact on firecracker sales. There is a huge rush of customers in the markets," he said. As a precautionary measure, a magistrate has been deployed at each of the police stations concerned to monitor the legal and illegal purchase and sale of firecrackers in their respective areas....