Delhi / 4,000 kg firecrackers seized in Delhi ahead of Diwali, 26 arrested

NEW DELHI: Despite a blanket ban on the sale of crackers, Delhi Police in its crackdown ahead of Diwali has so far seized around 4,000 kilograms of firecrackers and arrested 26 people in 23 cases.

After the ban was imposed on the sale and bursting of firecrackers till January 1, 2022 to combat air pollution, the licensing unit of Delhi Police stated that no new licences would be issued for sale of crackers and even licences of permanent shops would be cancelled in case they violated the norms.

Senior police officers said firecrackers were not available in the capital, but the porous borders of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana make it easy for people to bring them to Delhi. Leftover stock as well as some brought illegally from factories producing them clandestinely were being brought by the accused men.

DCP (Rohini) Pranav Tayal said, “We have been doing constant surprise checks in several markets. Cops have been deployed in plainclothes at some locations. We seized 1,174 kilograms of firecrackers in three cases. These people were bringing the crackers from the bordering states to sell in the city.”

In east Delhi, 81.1kg of firecrackers were seized with the arrest of four people in as many instances. “People are mainly getting smaller quantities to sell it in their known circle, but our teams have been working round the clock to ensure the ban is not violated. Most of the accused said they were doing this to earn quick money,” said DCP (East) Priyanka Kashyap.

Earlier, an employee at a five-star hotel was arrested by Central district police while trying to sneak in crackers from Faridabad. He wanted to sell it during Diwali in the Walled City, which is a shopper’s paradise during the festive season and is usually packed with visitors. This makes it easier for people to quietly sell the crackers.

Several police teams have been deployed in the markets and announcements are being made to alert people that strong action would be taken against violators.

A 33-year-old Noida-based shopkeeper was arrested from Hazrat Nizamuddin in southeast Delhi for allegedly carrying 21.7kg firecrackers in his vehicle despite the ban, police said on Sunday. The vehicle used for carrying the firecrackers was seized from the accused, Heera Lal.