Jaipur firecracker factory fire: SHO among 9 cops suspended for negligence
Synopsis
Eight people are dead after an illegal firecracker factory caught fire in Jaipur's Kho Nagorian area — and the fallout has now claimed nine police careers. The suspension of the local SHO and eight other personnel signals that accountability is being demanded from the ground up, even as a special crime branch team probes how the unlicensed unit was allowed to operate undetected.
Key Takeaways
Eight people died in a fire at an illegal firecracker factory in Kho Nagorian, Jaipur on Tuesday .
Nine police personnel , including SHO Om Prakash Matwa , have been suspended for alleged negligence.
Preliminary inquiry found serious lapses at both beat and police station levels.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajay Singh will lead a special team investigation.
Jaipur Police have ordered city-wide inspections targeting illegal factories, warehouses, and unauthorised explosive storage.
Jaipur Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal on Wednesday suspended nine police personnel, including the Station House Officer (SHO) of Kho Nagorian Police Station, following a deadly fire at an illegally operated firecracker factory in the Kho Nagorian area of Jaipur, Rajasthan. The blaze, which broke out on Tuesday, claimed the lives of eight people at the unauthorised firecracker manufacturing unit.
Key Developments
A preliminary inquiry ordered by Commissioner Mittal found serious lapses at both the beat and police station levels. Based on its findings, SHO Om Prakash Matwa, Head Constable Ashok, and Constables Ramavatar, Dinesh, Asif, Harendra, and Ashok were placed under suspension with immediate effect.
Earlier, in the immediate aftermath of the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Ranjita Sharma had already suspended Assistant Sub-Inspector Amar Singh and Head Constable Pappu Ram. The latest action brings the total number of suspended personnel to nine.
Investigation and Special Team
Commissioner Mittal has entrusted the investigation to Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajay Singh, who will lead a specially constituted team. The team is tasked with conducting a comprehensive inquiry into all aspects of the incident, including the role of local police personnel and compliance with safety regulations. A detailed report will be submitted, on the basis of which further legal and departmental action will be initiated against anyone found responsible.
Crackdown on Illegal Establishments
In the wake of the tragedy, Commissioner Mittal has directed all Deputy Commissioners of Police and Station House Officers across the Jaipur Commissionerate to launch intensive survey and inspection drives in their jurisdictions. Beat officers and police station staff have been instructed to conduct door-to-door surveys to identify unauthorised storage of explosives and firecracker stockpiles, particularly in residential and densely populated areas.
Immediate action has been ordered against illegally operating factories, warehouses, firecracker storage facilities, and other hazardous establishments. Special attention is to be given to licensing requirements and safety norm compliance for hazardous materials.
Commissioner's Warning
Commissioner Mittal emphasised that negligence at any level in matters affecting public safety will not be tolerated, and that strict action will continue against all those found responsible. This incident is part of a recurring pattern of illegal firecracker units operating in residential zones across Rajasthan, where enforcement lapses have repeatedly preceded deadly accidents.
Point of View
But the harder question is structural: how does an illegal firecracker factory operate long enough to kill eight people without triggering a single police report? Beat-level negligence does not arise in a vacuum — it is typically enabled by supervisory indifference or worse. The special team must look beyond the suspended constables and examine who, higher up the chain, signed off on inaction. Rajasthan has seen this pattern before; without prosecutions that stick and licensing enforcement that is proactive rather than post-tragedy, the next fire is a matter of when, not if.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Kho Nagorian firecracker factory in Jaipur?
A massive fire broke out at an illegally operated firecracker manufacturing unit in the Kho Nagorian area of Jaipur, Rajasthan on Tuesday, killing eight people. The factory was reportedly running without proper licences or safety compliance.
Why were the Jaipur police officers suspended?
Nine police personnel, including the local Station House Officer, were suspended for alleged negligence in the discharge of their duties. A preliminary inquiry found serious lapses at both the beat and police station levels, suggesting the illegal factory's operation went unchecked.
Who is leading the investigation into the Jaipur factory fire?
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajay Singh has been appointed to lead a special team investigation. The team will examine all aspects of the incident, including the role of local police and compliance with safety regulations, before submitting a detailed report.
What action is Jaipur Police taking to prevent similar incidents?
Commissioner Sachin Mittal has directed all Deputy Commissioners of Police and SHOs in the Jaipur Commissionerate to conduct intensive surveys and inspections. Door-to-door checks are underway to identify unauthorised explosive storage, and immediate action has been ordered against illegal factories and hazardous establishments.
How many police personnel have been suspended in total?
A total of nine police personnel have been suspended — two were suspended immediately after the incident by DCP (East) Ranjita Sharma, and seven more, including the SHO, were suspended on Wednesday following the preliminary inquiry findings.
