Illegal possession of firecrackers: Cops intensify crackdown

New Delhi: Delhi Police has been cracking down on sale of illegal firecrackers and its efforts bore fruit on Tuesday, after a man was arrested from north Delhi's Sadar Bazaar for possessing 23 kg crackers, which were hidden in cartons.

Cops said the accused has been identified as Vikash, a resident of Singhara Chowk area, who was arrested during night patrolling duty by a team from Sadar Bazar police station.

"We got an tip-off about the accused and from his room, we recovered different kinds of firecrackers, like Pistol Missile, Machis bomb etc," said a police officer.

Vikash was hiding all the crackers inside carton wrapped with a white cloth, which had 'Apple' written on it.

When asked about the documents or license required for the crackers, he was unable to give answer and thus nabbed.

Investigators told Millennium Post they believe the crackers were brought from central Delhi and Vikash might have sold them in Sadar Bazaar market, where people go to buy decoration items for Diwali.

"He wanted to convince customer in the market and then sell the crackers," said an investigator, adding that a case under Section 286 of the Indian Penal Code and the Explosives Act, 1884 has been registered.

Tuesday's arrest was the result of a crackdown and patrolling done by vigilance and teams from local police stations.

Cops said that apart from meeting different RWAs and MWAs, they have heightened foot patrolling in many areas as well as security in different markets.

Police data accessed by Millennium Post claimed that since 2016, over 30 cases have been registered under the Explosives Act.

In 2017, in spite of a ban on the sale of firecrackers, cops had seized more than 3,000 kg of crackers. The data claimed that from Rohini, around 959.3 kg of firecrackers were recovered, whereas 367.5 kg was seized from North Delhi. From Shahdara, 397.4 kg was seized. More than 400 kg was seized from East and North East Delhi.

More than 68 cases for possession of illegal firecrackers were registered last year, while three such cases have been registered so far this year.

So far this, Delhi Police has received around 538 applications for license for temporary sale of firecrackers.

The highest number of applications, i.e. 96, were submitted in East Delhi, followed by 69 in North Delhi and 48 in Shahdara.

Moreover, senior police officers are visiting schools to inform children about the Supreme Court's guidelines on firecrackers as well as the ill effects of bursting crackers.

Cops are also making the children pledge not to buy firecrackers illegally.

Moreover, if false complaints are received about someone else illegally possessing firecrackers, cops said they will take strict action against the caller.