18 ARRESTED FOR SELLING, BURSTING CRACKERS IN CITY
GURUGRAM:At least 18 people were arrested for bursting and selling crackers in violation of the Supreme Court ban, in different parts of the city on Diwali, Gurugram police said. The apex court had on October 23 banned conventional firecrackers in view of the severe levels of air pollution.
Police said it filed 13 FIRs in five police stations against people violating the top court’s order, according to information available till 7pm on Thursday. In Delhi, nearly 400 people were arrested for bursting and selling crackers. The Delhi police also seized 2,776 kg of firecrackers.
People who were bursting crackers were booked under section 188, 269 and 278 of the Indian Penal Code. However, those who were caught selling crackers were booked under section 188 and Explosives Act. In most of the cases, the accused got bail and were released.
About 1,800 police personnel had been patrolling the city on Diwali, which was celebrated on Wednesday, Subhash Boken, Gurugram Police spokesperson, said.
Also, an order was issued by the deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh on Tuesday stating that people can burst crackers only at eight designated locations. However, it was circulated to the media only after 3pm on Wednesday.
In one case in Sector 9A, a doctor was arrested for burning crackers outside his house.
An HT team, which visited different city areas to check compliance of the SC ban, found open bursting of crackers. HTC