Mangaluru: Police have registered a case at the Kadaba Police Station following an alleged illegal blasting incident during well construction work at Ramakunja village, which reportedly caused damage to a nearby house.
Blasting allegedly carried out despite warnings
According to the complaint, the incident occurred at Kampa in Ramakunja village where Somashekhar, the owner of a piece of land, had begun digging a well on his property.
In order to break rocks encountered during the digging work, he had reportedly assigned the task to another individual, identified as Shivarama, a resident of Kodimbala village.
Police said that Shivarama allegedly prepared to carry out blasting inside the well using explosives to break the rocks and continue the construction work.
Residents objected to the use of explosives
Local residents living near the site reportedly noticed the preparations for the blast and rushed to the location.
Concerned about the safety of the surrounding houses and residents, they warned Shivarama not to carry out the blasting as several homes were located close to the well construction site.
Residents reportedly told him that using explosives in such a residential area could pose a serious threat to lives and property. They advised him to refrain from conducting the blast and urged him to stop the activity.
However, according to the complaint, the warning was ignored.
Nearby house wall reportedly developed cracks
Despite objections from local residents, Shivarama allegedly proceeded with the blasting operation using explosives.
Following the blast, cracks reportedly appeared on the wall of a nearby house, raising concerns among residents about the potential damage and risks caused by the unauthorised use of explosives.
The incident prompted affected residents to approach the police and lodge a formal complaint regarding the blasting activity.
Case registered under BNS and Explosives Act
Based on the complaint, Kadaba police registered a case against the accused.
The case has been booked under Section 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which relates to negligent conduct with respect to building demolition or construction work that could endanger human life.
Police have also invoked Section 3(5) of the BNS in connection with the alleged offence.
In addition, the case has been registered under Section 9(B) of the Explosives Act, 1884, which deals with the unlawful possession or use of explosives without proper authorisation or licence.
Investigation underway
Police officials said further investigation has been taken up to ascertain the exact circumstances of the incident and whether the explosives used were obtained legally.
Authorities are also examining the extent of damage caused to the nearby property and whether safety procedures were violated during the well construction work.
Police have stated that strict action will be taken if the accused are found to have used explosives illegally or carried out blasting activities without necessary permissions.
The investigation is currently in progress.