Residents burst crackers beyond 9.30 pm, 10 booked

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 20

Residents continued to burst crackers beyond 9:30 pm in the city on Diwali night. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to fix the timing for bursting of crackers from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm.

The noise of crackers could be heard even till midnight.

The police have registered three cases against 10 persons for violating of the High Court order under Section 188 of the IPC. These cases were filed at Civil Lines, Gate Hakima and Sadar police stations.

The Police Commissioner even pressed vehicles in service in which policemen asked people through the public address system to refrain from bursting crackers after 9:30 pm. Though the limited number of retail traders was issued licences to sell crackers, a large number of them were found to be openly selling the same in markets on the day of Diwali.

Kulwinder Singh, a resident, said, “The order of the court was in a good spirit to curb the pollution level. However, it was introduced when the festival was near and the traders and consumers had made ample arrangements. Hence, it was extremely tough for the police to curb the violation.”