On Diwali eve, residents comply with HC orders on crackers

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 18

With the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowing bursting of crackers only for three hours that too on Diwali evening, residents of the city and surrounding towns have so far been maintaining compliance of the orders.

No sound of rockets or fireworks could be heard even a day before Diwali in the city. Not just in the city, there was no violation even in the periphery as SSP, Jalandhar (Rural), Gurpreet S Bhullar, and SSP, Kapurthala, Sandeep Sharma, said their teams were on duty and so far, there had been no bursting of crackers anywhere.

“My teams are in the field to keep a tab. Even I moved around to check things myself. So far, I have not heard any sound of fireworks. But our teams will continue to maintain the checks,” said Sharma.

Since Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in the city, anyone violating the orders of the District Magistrate can be proceeded against Section 188 of the IPC and can be fined or imprisoned or both for violating the orders of the court. As per HC orders, crackers can be exploded only between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm tomorrow.The impact of campaigns on celebrating cracker-free, eco-Diwali has seemingly had a major impact this time. Many organisations have been distributing saplings to observe Green Diwali this time. Campaigns in schools too have had an effect. “My son, who is in Class II, has strictly told me not to bring any crackers home. So, we have only lit up our home and decorated it. We are not going to play with any crackers this time”, said Abhishek Verma, a businessman.

Baldev Raj of Wholesale Fireworks Association, Jalandhar, said: “The sales of crackers have remained dismally low this time. We have had a bad business. Over 50 per cent of our stock remains unsold. There are hardly any buyers. Even those coming to us are taking limited stocks”.

Security beefed up in city

Security has been beefed up on Diwali with around 500 extra police personnel deputed in the city for two days. For the whole day today, the police were extra vigilant and checking was being done actively to avoid any untoward incident.