Over 100 cases filed for flouting SC order on firecrackers

Over 100 cases were registered in Mumbai for violation of the Supreme Court order on setting off firecrackers during Diwali, police said Saturday.

The SC had last month permitted sale and manufacture of low emission "green" firecrackers countrywide and fixed a two-hour time period (8pm-10pm) for bursting them on Diwali and other festivals.

The state home department had asked the police to implement the SC directive on firecrackers and ensure action against those violating the deadline.

More than 100 cases were registered in various parts of the metropolis against people who burst firecrackers after the 10 pm deadline, the police added.

Also, 53 cases were registered at various police stations against firecracker sellers for violating safety guidelines, a spokesperson of the Mumbai Police said.

In the first case related to violation of the SC-fixed deadline Wednesday, the Trombay police had arrested two persons for allegedly bursting firecrackers at midnight, a police official said.

The two, Shyam Khalidia and Sunil Pagare - residents of Maharashtra Nagar in suburban Mankhurd - were next day produced before a local magistrate, who granted them bail, he said.

On Thursday night, seven persons were detained by the Marine Drive police for flouting the apex court's guidelines, he said, adding they were penalised and released.

A string of complaints related to violation of the SC deadline on setting-off firecrackers were lodged on the Mumbai police's official Twitter handle and regional police control rooms, he said.