Rules violation alleged as new makeshift cracker shop comes up at grain market

In gross violation of rules, some unidentified persons have set up a shop, reportedly illegally, at the grain market near Jalandhar bypass. The shop has been running for over three days now and the matter has reached senior police officials but the Police Department has not been able to take action against the offender, allegedly due to the involvement of a ruling party politician.

It is pertinent to mention here that the draw for allotting wholesale cracker shops was conducted by the Police Department in which as many as 40 shops were allotted after following the due procedure. Hundreds of people had applied for the allotment but it was the 40 lucky ones who got the shops allotted in their names.

As per the norms laid down by the department, no extra shop can be opened in the grain market, besides these 40 shops but people reportedly close to ruling party leaders and some police officials opened a makeshift shop in violation of the rules.

Interestingly, the shop, ‘Aradhya Fireworks’, has been set up illegally at a prominent location in a row (adjacent to shop number 40) near the entrance gate of the grain market, indicating that the owner has been given special exemption. When visitors enter the cracker market, they will first come across the illegal shop. The most shocking development is that it has no number while all other 40 shops in the market are duly numbered and the names of their owners have also been mentioned.

Mysterious opening

If the police take action, the entire stock of the shop can be confiscated and legal action initiated against the owner as well. Other traders who got the shops allotted by following the due process, after paying the allotment fee and other charges to the Mandi Board, said: “The shop was opened by some unidentified persons about three days ago secretly at night. Huge stocks of fireworks have been kept in the shop. We could not stop this as we have been told that ruling party politicians and senior police officials have allowed it to run. We are not filing complaints, else the police and the politicians concerned may harass us.”

Entire cracker market sitting on a powder keg

The wholesale market for crackers poses a fire hazard with massive open stocks. Despite warnings, shopkeepers keep huge stocks in the open, risking disaster. A shopkeeper said they could stock only 1,000-1,200 kg of crackers, but shopkeepers have kept 2,000-3,000 kg in the open. They park cars among shops and crackers, risking major trouble. The shopkeeper claimed that they have sand buckets, water drums and a few fire extinguishers but no CCTV cameras. Therefore, security concerns persist. Fire officials emphasised basic safety measures.

Illegal shop will not be allowed in market: DCP

DCP (City & Investigation) Shubham Aggarwal said he had instructed the ACP concerned to take action and ensure that illegal shop doesn’t open. He said he would again check the status and unauthorised cracker shop would not be allowed in the grain market.