14 detained for bursting crackers outside apex court

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Tuesday evening detained 14 people, including three women, for bursting firecrackers outside the Supreme Court premises and took them to Tilak Marg police station. "We have detained 14 people under Section 65 of Delhi Police Act for bursting crackers outside the apex court," said DCP (New Delhi) B K Singh. Moreover, tough action was taken against police officers, whose laxity led to sale of firecrackers in the city. DCP (Outer) M N Tiwari suspended two policemen for colluding with shopkeepers to sell firecrackers.

No shop in the city would be allowed to sell firecrackers till October 31. So far, cops have seized 1,182 kg of firecrackers and registered 21 cases/FIRs. Delhi Police PRO Madhur Verma said many firecrackers shops were forced to shut on Tuesday. "We are following the apex court guidelines against shopkeepers found selling firecrackers and taking action as per the law. The police are on tight vigil to ensure no one violates the guidelines," he said. Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Tejinder Bagga left the party red faced on Tuesday, after he was seen distributing firecrackers to children in Hari Nagar. A senior police officer said, ""There is no ban on gifting or distributing crackers, so it may not attract any legal action."