Kannur: Police on Tuesday booked a 25-year-old daily wage labourer after a high-decibel firecracker exploded in his hand at Kannalkkara in Eruvatty near Pinarayi in Kannur district.

The accused has been identified as Vipin Raj (25) of Snehalayam in Pinarayi. The police registered a suo motu case based on a complaint by Pinarayi Sub-Inspector Manojan T K.

The explosion caused serious injuries to his right palm, following which he underwent surgery at a private hospital in Kannur.

According to SI Manojan, a firecracker was among those left over from celebrations following the local body election victory on Saturday.

Vipin Raj lives with his sister, who has a newborn child. When he attempted to burst the cracker at home around 1 pm on Tuesday, his sister asked him to move away to avoid startling the baby.

He then walked nearly 100 metres away to a vacant plot near the house. While lighting the cracker there, it exploded in his right hand, the FIR stated.

Vipin Raj has been booked under Section 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with negligent handling of explosive substances.

When asked whether a person could be booked if a firecracker exploded in his hand, the officer said it could invite action as it endangered both the individual and others.

According to the ANI news agency, Vipin Raj is a CPM worker, and he was injured during the "bomb-making process". Pinarayi Police have denied it. They have, however, not taken his statement as he was undergoing surgery.