Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 14: Sahina (37), who had suffered injuries after crackers stored in a house at Korakambala near Bajpe police station exploded on the night of Tuesday, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital in the early hours on Wednesday January 13.

At the time the crackers stored in a bathroom located in a concrete structure by the side the house went off, Siraj had gone out with his two children. His wife, Sahina, was alone at home. It is gathered that sparks from the hearth inside the bathroom that was fired to heat water caused the accident.

The deafening sound of explosion was heard to a distance of two kilometres, and the concrete structure crashed to the ground. Sahina, who was taking bath inside the bathroom after bolting the door, had suffered grave injuries as the structure came down crashing. Locals had rescued her from under the debris of the building and admitted into a private hospital in the city.

Locals said that Siraj, who had earlier worked for a relative named Jehangir, who was engaged in business of crackers with licence, had begun manufacture of crackers at his home illegally some years back. Siraj could not be traced after the incident.

Police have taken the case seriously and investigation is being led by city crime branch deputy commissioner of police, Dr Sanjiv Patil, Panambur assistant commissioner of police, Madan Gaonkar, Bajpe inspector, T D Nagaraj, and sub-inspector, Ramesh. Besides local controller of explosives, officials of forensic science laboratory, tahsildar and some revenue officials visited the spot and conducted investigation. A backhoe was hired to move the debris and conduct investigation on Wednesday morning. During the inspection, large quantity of iron pipes, coconut fibre, ropes, gunpowder, and other items used in manufacture of different kinds of crackers were found. A case of negligence and illegal manufacture of explosives was registered in Bajpe police station against Siraj.

MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, visited the spot and consoled the grieving relatives.

Worship of Rakteshwari: Curiously, during the investigation, it transpired that Goddess Rakteshwari was being worshipped at the house of Siraj. It is gathered that the grandfather of Siraj had married a Hindu woman belonging to a family which was engaged in the worship of this goddess. The woman continued this practice even after her marriage to a Muslim man, and Siraj's family too kept this practice alive, it is gathered.