Boudh firecracker godown owner still absconding after deadly blast; possible RDX, Gelatin link  under scanner

Three days after a massive explosion at an illegal firecracker godown in Jiakata, Boudh district, police are still hunting for its absconding owner, Alok Dutta Kanti. Amid allegations that high-impact explosives like RDX and Gelatin were being supplied to stone-crushing units, the police officials are still unable to locate the Kanti. The blast on September 21 killed two people, left others critically injured, and caused severe damage to nearby structures.

As per reports, police have intensified operations to trace Kanti, carrying out raids at multiple locations linked to him and his relatives. On Tuesday morning, a shop belonging to Kanti’s nephew was searched. Over the past three days, firecrackers worth more than Rs 1 crore have been seized from five places. Truckloads of the stock were later neutralised by soaking them in water.

Rise of a Local Trader

Locals said Kanti, who once ran a small fruit shop to support his family, had expanded his operations by illegally supplying firecrackers to over 10 districts, including Boudh. His growing network, they alleged, also catered to clandestine demands from illegal stone-crusher units.

Explosives Allegations

Reports suggest Kanti had been illegally selling explosives such as RDX and Gelatin. It is alleged that the presence of these materials triggered the devastating blast. Police and mining authorities, however, have denied knowledge of RDX or Gelatin being stored at the site. 

The intensity of the explosion was such that one victim, identified as Lakhmikant Behera, was flung nearly a kilometre away.

Wider Concerns

Although Odisha has seen several incidents of firecracker unit blasts in the past, none have matched the scale of destruction witnessed in Boudh. 

Residents claim that trucks linked to stone-crusher units often arrived at Kanti’s facility late at night to procure explosives secretly, raising questions about long-standing lapses in enforcement.