Varanasi Blast Suspect Arrested After Dramatic Police Encounter
Police arrest Raju Khan after a shootout following a deadly illegal firecracker factory explosion in Varanasi's Paigambarpur.
The primary suspect in the devastating Varanasi firecracker factory explosion has been apprehended by the police following a violent confrontation. Raju Khan, who was allegedly running an illegal manufacturing unit, was caught after a shootout that left him injured and in police custody.
The Encounter: A Narrow Escape for Police
The arrest unfolded while the Sarnath police were conducting routine security checks of vehicles and individuals near the Saraimohana Ghat area. According to official reports, Raju Khan had been hiding in the nearby bushes to evade capture.
The situation escalated when Khan suddenly emerged from the foliage and opened fire on the police team. In a stroke of luck, the bullet struck the bulletproof jacket of Sub-Inspector Amarjit Kumar, preventing a potentially fatal injury. The police team immediately retaliated, firing back at the suspect. Khan sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg, below the knee, and was subsequently taken into custody.
Following the skirmish, authorities recovered an illegal firearm and two spent cartridges from the suspect. Khan is currently receiving medical treatment at the District Hospital under police guard.
The Explosion: Chaos in Paigambarpur
The encounter is the culmination of a manhunt that began on Thursday around 5:00 p.m. A massive explosion ripped through a residence in Paigambarpur, falling under the Sarnath police station jurisdiction. It was later revealed that the house was being used as a clandestine facility for manufacturing firecrackers.
The blast left three people injured, including children:
- Adil, aged 12
- Arabia, aged 10
- Chandni, aged 39
Witnesses at the scene reported that immediately after the blast, Raju Khan and his mother, Munni Khan, fled the premises through a back door. There were also allegations that the nature of the incident was initially misrepresented as a domestic cylinder blast to divert attention from the illegal activity.
A History of Danger
Investigation into the suspect's background has revealed a tragic pattern of negligence. Authorities noted that Khan's family previously lived in the Saraiya area, where a similar illegal firecracker explosion occurred in the past. That previous incident proved fatal, claiming the life of his father, Matiullah Khan.
Police believe that Raju Khan was attempting to flee Varanasi entirely to avoid the legal consequences of the latest blast. With the main suspect now in custody, the investigation continues to uncover the full scale of the illegal operation.