Delhi Police Cracks The Whip: Nearly 500 Arrested, Over 10,000 Kg Of Fireworks Seized By Diwali Night

To ensure implementation of the Supreme Court's directives, Delhi Police went on a major drive in the run-up to the festival, carrying out raids in search of illegal fireworks and arresting the violators.

Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik himself inspected various parts of the city on Diwali night and distributed sweets to on-duty personnel, Delhi Police HQ spokesman, Assistant Commissioner Anil Mittal told IANS on Monday (28 October).

The Delhi Police swung into action much ahead of Diwali to ensure that the orders of the Supreme Court are adhered to, and on Diwali itself, the Commissioner was out on the roads from 9 pm to inspect the security arrangements and encourage the personnel working on the festival day, he said.

Patnaik went around the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, IP Estate, the Police Control Room in Central Delhi district, the Police HQs, Connaught Place, the Chilla outpost on the Delhi-Noida border in East District, Haiderpur, and various other places. He continued on his rounds till midnight.

Nearly 500 people were arrested by Delhi Police by Diwali night. As many as 315 cases were filed against those flouting the Supreme Court's ban on bursting of crackers after 10 pm and 166 people were arrested.

A total of 56 cases were filed for violation of the Explosives Ordinance, and 44 people were arrested in this connection. The Control Room received 940 calls reporting big and small matters.

Mittal also told IANS that the licensing branch and the district police carried out joint operations to seize illegal fireworks and had seized nearly 10,000 kg of these.

(With IANS inputs)