Three people, including a local Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and his son, have been arrested following a deadly explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Fatuhiwala village, which claimed five lives and injured around 30 others, including women and children.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Tarsem Singh, an AAP leader; his son, Navraj Singh; and labour contractor Raj Kumar. Tarsem Singh’s wife, Sukhchain Kaur—also named in the FIR—is currently on the run.
Initial investigations reveal that the factory was operating without necessary approvals. Although a request for permission had been submitted, it was still pending. Despite this, the factory reportedly employed around 40 workers across two shifts, many of them migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh who lived on the premises with their families.
A case has been registered at Lambi Police Station under Sections 105, 18(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 9 and 12 of the Explosives Act, 1884, and Section 98 of the Factories Act.
Interestingly, the Muktsar District Police—typically prompt with press updates—have remained tight-lipped, raising concerns about political pressure, given the involvement of a ruling party functionary. No official statement or media release has been made, despite the scale and seriousness of the tragedy.
Senior Superintendent of Police Akhil Chaudhary confirmed the arrests but declined to provide further details, ending a media call abruptly when pressed for an official statement.
The authorities said a thorough investigation is underway to establish the exact cause of the blast and identify other potential culprits. Earlier, political leaders made a beeline for AIIMS Bathinda, where the injured from the firecracker factory explosion were admitted. Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian visited the hospital to check on the patients and announced that the state government would cover all treatment expenses.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal also met the injured at AIIMS and called for compensation for the families of the deceased and those injured. He demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and urged strict action against those who allowed the factory to operate without the required safety measures.
Amrita Warring, wife of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, visited the injured along with district party president Rajan Garg.
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