Latest news with #TarsemSingh
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
Five killed in blast at illegal firecracker factory in Pb
Chandigarh: At least five people were killed and 34 injured on Friday in a blast at a double-storey illegal firecracker factory located on the outskirts of a village in Punjab's Muktsar district, police said. Most of the victims were migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The factory, owned by Tarsem Singh, who is associated with the state-ruled AAP, in Singhwala village, was reduced to rubble owing to the intensity of the blast, trapping many under debris. According to the police, the blast occurred at midnight. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, and most of them were stated to be out of danger. Senior Superintendent of Police, Muktsar Sahib, Akhil Chaudhary, said the blast occurred in one of the rooms in the manufacturing setup of the unit, which led to the collapse of the roof. Many people got trapped under the debris, and rescue operations were launched immediately after the police received information about the incident. Deputy Superintendent of Police Jaspal Singh said five bodies had been recovered from the debris, and 29 injured individuals were rushed to AIIMS Bathinda and hospitals in Muktsar. Rescue teams were still on the scene, working to clear the rubble and search for survivors, if any. The exact cause of the blast is being worked out, but initial investigation suggests that the blast occurred from potash used in manufacturing crackers. Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Abhijit Kaplish told the media that no permission was granted to the manufacturing unit under the Explosives Rules of 2008. 'An application was made by the owners, but reports from different departments were pending, so no permission was granted,' he clarified. Scattered shoes, broken glass panes and vehicles were seen all over the accident spot, as rescuers were sifting through the rubble in search of survivors. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal has demanded a probe into the incident and urged the government to promptly release adequate compensation to the victims' families. Describing the incident as unfortunate, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Khudian said the factory owner is a supporter of the AAP, but that does not permit anyone to engage in illegal activity. 'The law will take its own course,' he added.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Muktsar blast: Firecracker factory was operating without permission, says DC; owner arrested
The firecracker factory in Punjab's Muktsar, where a blast killed five workers and injured 34 others in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, was allegedly operating without permission from the district authorities. Following the incident, the owner of the factory has been arrested, the police said. The two-storey building, which housed the factory in Singhewala village, also collapsed in the blast. 'No permission was granted to the factory under the required Explosives Rules, 2008,' said Abhijeet Kaplish, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Muktsar. The owner had reportedly submitted a request before the deputy commissioner's office for necessary approval, but the file was yet to be processed. 'The district administration's top priority remains the care and treatment of the injured. A detailed inquiry is underway, and the strictest action will be taken against those found responsible,' the DC said. He added that several of the seriously injured have been shifted to AIIMS Bathinda, while others are being treated at the Civil Hospital in Badal village under the Punjab Government's Farishtey scheme. Following preliminary investigation, the Muktsar police arrested the owner Tarsem Singh and lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against him and his son Navraj Singh. The two allegedly ran the factory together. Sources revealed that all the paperwork seeking licence for the unit was in the name of Navraj. They have been booked under stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 118(2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt using dangerous means), and 3(5) (group liability in crimes committed with shared intent). Additionally, the FIR includes charges under section 98 of the Explosives Act, 1884, which empowers the central government to prohibit dangerous explosive activities, and section 92 of the Factories Act, 1948, which deals with penalties for violation of safety and regulatory norms. The police said they are yet to identify the deceased as several of their coworkers, who could have helped in identifying them, have also been hospitalised. The contractor who brought the workers from Uttar Pradesh is yet to arrive, which has also delayed the identification process. Akhil Chaudhary, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Muktsar, said, 'Our forensic team is investigating to determine the reason behind this incident.' Punjab Cabinet Minister and Lambi MLA Gurmeet Singh Khuddian visited the victims who are under treatment at AIIMS, Bathinda. He inquired about their condition and assured them that the entire cost of their treatment will be borne by the Punjab Government. He stated the government stands with the affected families and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice to them. 'Those responsible will not be spared under any circumstances, and the strictest legal action will be taken against them,' he asserted. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who met the injured workers at AIIMS, termed the incident 'a failure of governance.' He alleged that the illegal factory was running under political patronage. 'There were no fire safety measures, and even minor children were employed at the site. I met a few of them. Shockingly, the contractor disappeared after the blast, and the factory owner was of no help to the trapped workers,' he said. Demanding strict action against the accused, Badal added, 'If the government does not act firmly, SAD will launch an agitation at the site. Such tragedies must not be allowed to repeat. We demand immediate compensation for the affected families and a high-level inquiry into how such a dangerous operation continued unchecked.' He urged the state government to ensure accountability and stricter enforcement of industrial safety norms across Punjab.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Five killed in blast at illegal firecracker factory in Punjab's Muktsar
At least five people were killed and 34 injured on Friday in a blast at a double-storey illegal firecracker factory located on the outskirts of a village in Punjab's Muktsar district, police said. Most of the victims were migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The factory, owned by Tarsem Singh, who is associated with the state-ruled AAP, in Singhwala village, was reduced to rubble owing to the intensity of the blast, trapping many under debris. According to the police, the blast occurred at midnight. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, and most of them were stated to be out of danger. Senior Superintendent of Police, Muktsar Sahib, Akhil Chaudhary, said the blast occurred in one of the rooms in the manufacturing setup of the unit, which led to the collapse of the roof. Many people got trapped under the debris, and rescue operations were launched immediately after the police received information about the incident. Deputy Superintendent of Police Jaspal Singh said five bodies had been recovered from the debris, and 29 injured individuals were rushed to AIIMS Bathinda and hospitals in Muktsar. Rescue teams were still on the scene, working to clear the rubble and search for survivors, if any. The exact cause of the blast is being worked out, but initial investigation suggests that the blast occurred from potash used in manufacturing crackers. Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Abhijit Kaplish told the media that no permission was granted to the manufacturing unit under the Explosives Rules of 2008. 'An application was made by the owners, but reports from different departments were pending, so no permission was granted,' he clarified. Scattered shoes, broken glass panes and vehicles were seen all over the accident spot, as rescuers were sifting through the rubble in search of survivors. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal has demanded a probe into the incident and urged the government to promptly release adequate compensation to the victims' families. Describing the incident as unfortunate, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Khudian said the factory owner is a supporter of the AAP, but that does not permit anyone to engage in illegal activity. 'The law will take its own course,' he added. In 2020, a total of 23 people were killed and 27 were injured in the explosion in an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Punjab's Batala town. It was manufacturing and storing crackers for a 'nagar kirtan' -- a religious procession relating to the birth anniversary celebrations of Sikhism's founder, Guru Nanak Dev. A similar blast occurred in Batala in January 2017, leaving one person dead and three injured.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
5 dead, 34 injured in firecracker factory blast in Punjab's Muktsar
At least five people were killed and 34 were injured early Friday in a powerful midnight blast at a double-storey firecracker factory located on the outskirts of a village in Punjab's Muktsar district. The factory in the Singhwala village in the Lambi constituency, owned by one Tarsem Singh, was reduced to rubble due to the intensity of the explosion. The force of the blast was so intense that it brought down the entire double-storey structure, trapping many under the debris. The identities of the deceased have not been confirmed yet. Most of the factory workers were migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. According to Jaspal Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Lambi, the explosion occurred between 12 midnight and 1 am. 'Our teams reached the spot without delay. So far, we have recovered five bodies from the debris, and rescue operations are still underway to ensure no one else is trapped,' he told The Indian Express. 'Nearly 28 people have been injured, and referred to various hospitals. Some are admitted to the Civil Hospital in Badal, while others are undergoing treatment at AIIMS, Bathinda. As per current reports, all are in stable condition.' Initial investigations show that both the manufacturing and packaging of firecrackers were being carried out on the same premises. Moreover, several workers were living within the factory building. 'Three bodies were recovered during the night, and two more in the early morning hours. Based on the number of workers believed to be staying inside, we are hopeful that no one else is trapped, but the rescue operation continues as a precautionary measure,' DSP Singh said. 'Once the injured are stable, we will record their statements to ascertain the exact cause of the blast. Strict action will follow as per the law. The factories department has also been informed and their team will soon visit the site to examine any violations under the Factories Act,' he added. Akhil Chaudhary, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Muktsar, told reporters, 'Initial investigation has revealed that two separate units were operating within the same premises — one for manufacturing and another for packaging firecrackers. Some workers were busy with packaging last night, while a few others were asleep when the blast occurred. Prima facie, it appears that the explosion was caused by materials used in firecracker manufacturing. However, our forensic team will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause. There is no need for panic at this stage.' 'We have directed the department concerned to verify the records and provide details about the factory's operations. Based on their findings, appropriate legal action will be initiated. Preliminary information suggests that the workers had recently shifted to this location for employment.' The Lambi police are probing whether the explosion was caused due to mishandling or improper storage of explosives used in the firecracker manufacturing process, or if other factors were involved. Residents of Singhwala and surrounding villages said they were woken up by the loud explosion and rushed out of their homes in fear.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Amritsar: Jathuwal sarpanch, brother booked for running illicit liquor trade
Sitting sarpanch of Jathuwal village was booked, and his brother was arrested for allegedly running an illicit liquor trade from their home, the officials said on Wednesday. The sarpanch, identified as Tarsem Singh, is absconding. According to police, he was allegedly manufacturing country-made liquor at home and selling it. The police sources said the raid was conducted after a tip-off from an informer. The police party seized 30 bottles of country-made liquor. The sarpanch managed to flee, while his younger brother Kuljeet Singh was arrested,' police said. A case was registered against them under relevant sections of the Excise Act at Kambo police station of Amritsar rural.
