Udupi: Police raid illegal firecracker storages, five arrested; crores worth of stock seized

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Oct 17, 2025: In a major crackdown, police conducted raids at multiple locations across Udupi district and seized firecrackers worth several crores of rupees that were being stored illegally and in hazardous conditions. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.

In the jurisdiction of Kota Police Station, a raid was conducted near the Mahalingeshwara Temple at Tekkatte, where firecrackers were found illegally stored in a house shed without any safety measures in place. Acting on a tip-off, police arrested K. Prashanth Jogi (44) and seized 332 boxes of firecrackers of various brands, valued at approximately ₹1,61,372.

In another incident under the Brahmavar Police Station limits, police raided a shamiana godown adjacent to a house in Kunjal, Aarooru village, and seized 16 boxes of firecrackers worth around ₹35,000. One person, Shivananda Rao (50) of Kunjal, was arrested.

In the third case, within the Karkala Town Police Station limits, police raided an old residential house in Dendabettu, Miyaru village, where Satyendra Nayak (70), Srikanth Nayak (37), and Ramananda Nayak (48) were found storing large quantities of firecrackers illegally and without precautionary measures. Acting on confirmed information, police arrested two individuals and seized firecrackers of various brands valued at over ₹1 crore.

Cases have been registered in all three police stations, and investigations are ongoing.