Kaushambi firecracker blast: 7 cops suspended, main accused shot in leg
Synopsis
Eleven dead, seven cops suspended, and the main accused shot in a police encounter — the Kaushambi firecracker blast has exposed a cascading institutional failure. The factory's permit was suspended in April 2024, a criminal case was filed in October 2024, the accused went to jail and came back — and the illegal operation simply resumed. Nobody stopped it until the explosion did.
Key Takeaways
A firecracker factory explosion in Chilla Shahbazi village, Kaushambi on 1 September killed 11 people and injured five others.
The facility's permit had been suspended since 4 April 2024 ; a criminal case was registered on 9 October 2024 , yet illegal operations continued.
Seven police officers — one Inspector and six Sub-Inspectors from Pipri Police Station and Chayal Outpost — were suspended for gross negligence.
Main accused Naushad was shot in the leg during a police encounter on Terah Mile-Syed Sarawan road and arrested at around 4 am on Tuesday .
An illegal pistol was recovered from Naushad; police are hunting the remaining accused and probing who sheltered him after the blast.
Seven police personnel, including the former Inspector-in-Charge of Pipri Police Station, have been suspended for alleged gross negligence following the deadly firecracker factory explosion in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, that killed 11 people and left five critically injured on Monday, 1 September. The disciplinary action was ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Prayagraj Range, as investigators confirmed the facility had been operating illegally despite a suspended permit and a prior criminal case.
What Happened in Chilla Shahbazi
A massive explosion tore through an illegal firecracker manufacturing and storage unit in Chilla Shahbazi village, under the Pipri police station area, at approximately 11:30 am on Monday. The blast killed 11 people on the spot and seriously injured five others. A case was registered against six accused at Pipri police station in connection with the incident.
The facility's permit for firecracker manufacturing and storage had been valid until 31 March 2026, but was suspended on 4 April 2024 after irregularities were detected. Despite the suspension, the accused allegedly continued operations, putting workers and nearby residents at grave risk.
Main Accused Naushad Shot, Arrested After Encounter
The alleged main accused, Naushad, was arrested following an encounter on the Terah Mile-Syed Sarawan road in the Charwa police station area at around 4 am on Tuesday. According to police, a special informant tipped off authorities that Naushad was attempting to flee the city after the blast.
CO Shivank Singh said four teams were constituted on the instructions of the Superintendent of Police to track and apprehend the accused. When police closed in, Naushad allegedly opened fire at the team with intent to kill; police retaliated in self-defence, and he was shot in the leg. An illegal pistol was also recovered from him. Investigators are now working to identify individuals who allegedly sheltered him after the explosion.
A History of Ignored Warnings
The permit for the factory was suspended as far back as April 2024 after procedural irregularities came to light. The then station in-charge had registered a case at Pipri police station on 9 October 2024, following which the accused was sent to jail. However, after his release, Naushad allegedly resumed illegal manufacturing at the same premises.
Despite the suspended permit, the prior criminal case, and the resumed illegal activity, the police personnel concerned allegedly failed to act. This chain of institutional failure is at the centre of the disciplinary action now underway.
Seven Officers Suspended
The Inspector General of Police, Prayagraj Range, suspended seven officers posted at Pipri Police Station and Chayal Outpost. The suspended personnel are: Inspector Shivcharan Ram (currently posted as Inspector-in-Charge, Cyber Police Station, Kaushambi; former Inspector-in-Charge, Pipri Police Station), Sub-Inspector Vikas Singh (former SHO, Pipri Police Station), Sub-Inspector Vinay Singh (current SHO, Charwa Police Station; former SHO, Chayal Outpost), Sub-Inspector Ajit Kumar Singh (current in-charge, Sandipan Ghat outpost; former Chail outpost), Sub-Inspector Abhishek Gupta (current in-charge, Sirathu outpost), Sub-Inspector Manish Pal (outpost in-charge, Bindki police station area), and Sub-Inspector Amit Dwivedi (currently posted at Police Lines, Kaushambi).
Investigation Ongoing
Police teams are continuing raids to apprehend the remaining accused named in the case. Investigators are also probing the network that allegedly assisted Naushad in evading capture after the blast. The broader investigation into the explosion, its causes, and the extent of regulatory failure is still underway, with further details expected as the inquiry progresses.
Point of View
Acted on it, and then looked away. The permit was suspended, a case was filed, the accused was jailed, and when he resumed operations in the same location, no one intervened. Seven suspensions signal accountability, but they do not answer the harder question: how many similar facilities are operating under the radar of police stations that already know about them? UP has seen repeated illegal firecracker factory tragedies, and the pattern — permit lapse, resumed operations, fatal blast — is disturbingly familiar. Disciplinary action after a disaster is not a substitute for enforcement before one.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Kaushambi firecracker factory blast?
An explosion occurred at an illegal firecracker manufacturing and storage facility in Chilla Shahbazi village, Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, at around 11:30 am on 1 September. The factory had been operating without a valid permit — its licence was suspended in April 2024 — and the accused allegedly continued manufacturing despite a prior criminal case and jail term.
How many people died in the Kaushambi blast?
Eleven people were killed and five others suffered serious injuries in the explosion. The blast tore through the illegal facility and affected workers and people in the surrounding area.
Why were seven police officers suspended?
The Inspector General of Police, Prayagraj Range, suspended seven officers — one Inspector and six Sub-Inspectors from Pipri Police Station and Chayal Outpost — for alleged gross negligence. Despite the factory's permit being suspended since April 2024 and a criminal case already on record, the officers allegedly failed to act when illegal operations resumed at the site.
Who is Naushad and what happened to him?
Naushad is the alleged main accused in the firecracker factory explosion. He was arrested after a police encounter on Terah Mile-Syed Sarawan road in the Charwa police station area at around 4 am on Tuesday. He was shot in the leg after allegedly opening fire at the police team; an illegal pistol was also recovered from him.
What is the current status of the investigation?
An investigation is underway. Police are conducting raids to apprehend the other accused named in the case and are probing who sheltered Naushad after the blast. The broader inquiry into regulatory failures and the full chain of events is ongoing.
