7 held in P’kula, 17 FIRs lodged

Panchkula, October 20

The police arrested seven persons for violating the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on bursting of crackers. Seventeen FIRs have been registered against violators. 

The High Court had allowed bursting of crackers only on Diwali and that too between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm.

Panchkula Police Commissioner AS Chawla said eight cases were registered at the Sector 5 police station, three each at the Sector 20 and Sector 14 police stations, two at the Mansa Devi police station and one at the Chandimandir police station under Section 188 of the IPC for violating directions issued under Section 144 of the CrPC by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Panchkula.

On October 15, DCP Manbir Singh had issued orders for the implementation of the High Court order allowing bursting of crackers on Diwali between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm.

In eight cases, the accused were named in the FIR for bursting crackers after 9.30 pm and in the remaining cases, their house addresses were also mentioned.

Of the seven people arrested, five were later released on bail, a police official said. 

MC Commissioner Rajesh Jogpal too had called up police officials informing them about people bursting crackers beyond the period fixed by the HC. 

The police today registered seven cases for violation of orders on bursting of crackers. While three cases were registered at the Sector 5 police station, two FIRs each were lodged at the Kalka and Pinjore police stations. —TNS