Fire at fireworks factory injures 13
Kolkata, Oct 7 : At least 13 people were injured when a fire broke out at a fireworks factory Sunday in South 24 Parganas district's Sonarpur area, police said.
The owner of the factory, who was also injured in the fire, was detained, a senior officer of Sonarpur Police Station said.
Nine of the injured have been released after preliminary medical assistance at Baruipur hospital. The condition of one among the remaining four, who were referred to a state-run hospital in the city, is stated to be critical, he said.
The incident occurred at Sonarpur's Gobindopur area.
Three fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames which broke out at the factory at around 12.40 pm on Sunday, a fire department official said.
"This was a small factory with only a tin shed and small walls on four sides. There were some finished and unfinished firecrackers at the factory," the official said.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, a police officer said adding that there was a couple of blasts from the factory which damaged a few nearby houses too.
The fire was doused at around 3.40 pm, he said.
"The owner is undergoing treatment in the hospital and we are waiting for his release to question him," the police officer said.
Other materials and commodities used to manufacture firecrackers were seized from the factory, the officer added.
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Two held for assaulting policemen over drinking in public
Bengaluru (PTI): Two police personnel on patrolling duty were allegedly abused and assaulted by a group of four youths after being asked not to consume alcohol in a public place, police said on Wednesday.
Two of the accused -- an engineering student and a software engineer, both in their 20s -- have been arrested in the case, they said.
Efforts are being made to nab the other two suspects, who have been identified, police added.
The incident occurred in the early hours of May 1, when the two personnel, attached to Amrutahalli police station, were patrolling on a two-wheeler near Akashavani Layout, they said.
According to police, while patrolling around 3 am, they noticed four youths who had stopped their car on the road and were consuming alcohol. When they were told to leave, as drinking alcohol in a public place is not permitted, one among them suddenly started abusing them.
When the policemen attempted to take out their lathi from the vehicle, the youths allegedly caught hold of them from behind, grabbed and dragged them, and tore one of their uniforms, the FIR stated.
They assaulted them with their hands and with rings worn, causing injuries to their faces. They also kicked them, causing pain, it said.
Thereafter, the accused allegedly snatched the key of their vehicle, pushed them to the ground, and fled the scene in their car at high speed, police said.
The policemen then immediately went to a hospital for treatment and lodged a complaint against four unknown youths, following which an FIR was registered against them under Sections 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter a public servant from duty), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty), 304 (snatching), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
"We have arrested two people in the case and efforts are being made to nab the other two suspects who have been identified," a senior police officer said.
