4 injured in blast during seized liquor destruction

Shamli: Four people, including a chowkidar, were injured in an explosion at the Jhinjhana police station in Shamli district on Saturday afternoon during the destruction of seized illicit liquor under the ongoing "Operation Clean" drive of the Excise Act.Police said the blast occurred inside the police station premises when officials were disposing of confiscated liquor by pouring it into a pit dug for safe destruction. Chowkidar Mohammad Nawab (50), a resident of Tisang village, suffered critical burn injuries and was referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.SP NP Singh said Nawab allegedly tried to hasten the disposal process by setting a piece of cloth on fire and throwing it into the liquor-filled pit, triggering a sudden and powerful explosion.Head constable Joni Kumar, constable Lalit Kumar—both posted at Jhinjhana police station—and Sunil Kumar, a JCB operator from Lakshmanpura village assisting in the operation, also sustained injuries. The three were treated locally and were reported to be out of danger.Jhinjhana SHO Virendra Kasana said the destruction exercise was being carried out under judicial orders and supervised by a court-appointed team in the presence of the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and the circle officer (CO). Around 800 cartons of illicit liquor linked to nearly 59 cases were being destroyed when the incident occurred.Police have launched an inquiry to ascertain the exact sequence of events. No immediate legal action has been taken so far.