42, 000 cops to ensure safe $ green Diwali in Pb

Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service

Wearing face masks and carrying sanitisers, 42,000 police personnel, more than half of the Punjab Police force, will be on duty tomorrow to keep a vigil and check violations regarding the bursting of crackers. Also, an additional force from reserve battalions has been mobilised, Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta said.

Special patrol squads have been formed to check any violation of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directions on fire crackers. Already, raids in Barnala, Ludhiana and Moga have led to the seizure of banned crackers. Police helpline 112 has been fine-tuned to ensure prompt response to complaints.

Sources said owing to the firing in the Uri sector and announcement of “Black Diwali” by several organisations, the police were not taking any chances. “Joint teams of the police and civil administration have been deputed in the field. The cops have been made aware of the NGT guidelines to ensure a green Diwali,” DGP Dinkar said.