Bitter Diwali for those caught violating cracker rule last year
NEWDELHI: Mohit Kumar, 33, has vowed that he won’t even step out this Diwali.
He is afraid that his six-yearold son will insist on bursting firecrackers when other children in his Lodhi Road neighbourhood burn fireworks on Diwali night. “I don’t want to break my boy’s heart, but I can’t take any chances with firecrackers,” said Kumar.
Kumar’s caution stems from his detention by the Delhi Police last Diwali after he and his relatives were allegedly caught bursting firecrackers beyond the time stipulated by the court. He had spent hours at the Lodhi Road police station that night and continues to make rounds of the court.
“This Diwali, I won’t even step out of home,” said Kumar.
The first information report (FIR) against Kumar was among at least 562 such cases registered by the Delhi Police on Diwali last year against people violating the court guidelines on bursting firecrackers.
The Supreme Court, which had put a blanket ban on bursting firecrackers in 2017, had in 2018 relaxed its orders and allowed only ‘green crackers’ for a two-hour window from 8pm to 10pm on the Diwali evening. No green crackers were, however, available in the market last year.
This year, only two types of green firecrackers —anar and phuljhari — are available in the market and that too in short supply. Green crackers are an upgraded form of conventional crackers with 30% less emissions. As Diwali approaches, the accused persons and their families are bitter and cautious. They are facing a tough time convincing the children in their families that this Diwali will be minus the fireworks.
Caught last year while lighting crackers, Abhishek Gola, a 30-year-old property dealer in
Bhogal, said this Diwali, he will not buy even the legally available green crackers even though his four-year-old nephew has been pestering him.
“For past few days he has been insisting that I buy firecrackers for him. What excuse will I give my nephew on Diwali evening? I am his favourite uncle, but I won’t be breaking the law a second time,” said Gola.