Crackdown on unlicensed cracker units in TN, 13 held

To check unlicensed storage of crackers and chemicals used for its making, which often lead to mishaps, police have been conducting raids in Virudhunagar in Tamil Ndau, and have so far registered 21 cases and arrested 13 persons, including one today.
Following several mishaps in Virudhunagar district including an explosion that killed two persons on July 3 in Sivakasi where crackers were stored illegally, four teams comprising officials from police, revenue and fire services were set up and raids were conducted in Virudhunagar, Aruppukottai, Sivakasi and Sattur, a police official said.
"So far 21 cases have been booked and 13 arrested for unlicensed possession of chemicals and some quantity of crackers," S Maheswaran, Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar, told PTI.

54-year-old Mohanraj of Sattur was arrested today for possession of about 7 kg of chemicals including sulphur and aluminium powder used for making crackers, he said.
Also, the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation of the Union government has also been conducting checks, he added.