Rajendra Kasawa - the main accused in the September 12 explosion at Petlawad town in which 89 people were killed, died in the same blast, police said today, ending weeks of suspense about his whereabouts.
Police had launched a massive manhunt for Kasawa, a stockist who had illegally stored mining explosives that detonated, after the blast and also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
"We had sent some unclaimed bodies from the blast site to Forensic Science Laboratory in Sagar district. One of the DNA profilings has matched with Kasawa's son Shumbhan and his brother Phoolchand.
"Parts of these bodies were kept in a morgue in a hospital and sent for DNA profiling on November 2. The DNA matching report came today," District Superintendent of Police Sanjay Tiwari said.
Kasawa had kept a huge quantity of gelatin sticks and detonators, commonly used in mining purposes in this tribal- dominated district, at his godown in Petlawad, 50km from here.
The explosives accidentally went off and ripped through a crowded area in the town, leaving behind a trail of deaths and destruction nearly three months ago. As many as 89 people were killed and nearly 100 hurt in the massive blast.
After the incident, Kasawa had been booked under 304 (manslaughter or culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC and other sections of Explosive Substance Act.
A week after the explosion, Pramila, the wife of Kasawa, had told police her husband rushed to the godown as soon as he was told on phone about the blast, and did not return home. She had informed police that he might have possibly died in the explosion or its aftermath.
A minor blast first took place at Kasawa's godown and people who were at a nearby bus stand rushed to the spot to see what had happened.
After a few minutes, a series of explosions shook the area and completely destroyed a building housing a hotel where people had thronged for breakfast, according to eyewitnesses.
