In Mumbai: 21 arrested in Thane for selling loud crackers without permit

Twenty-one roadside stall owners were arrested for selling high decibel fire crackers, illegally, in Thane on Monday

Twenty-one roadside stall owners were arrested for selling high-decibel firecrackers, illegally, in Thane, over the past two days, starting Monday. The police have seized firecrackers worth Rs70,000 from them. Two people were also arrested for bursting firecrackers on a road at Bhiwandi on Monday, said the police.

The accused did not have permission run the stalls (HT File Photo)

Officials from police stations under the Thane commissionerate – namely, Kasarwadavli police station, Vartak Nagar police station, Shivaji Nagar police station and Ulhasnagar police station – arrested the 21 stall owners.

A couple of weeks before Diwali, the Thane police had circulated a notice on firecrackers in which it said that a ban on selling high-decibel fire crackers is on until November 4. “We circulated the notice within the commissionerate and warned people not to sell high-decibel firecrackers. Those wanting to sell them would have to obtain prior permission before doing so. We also mentioned the permissible time limit for bursting crackers,” said an inspector .

He added, “After circulating the notice, we started patrolling the area where firecrackers were being sold and then took action against the offenders.”

Another inspector from Thane commissionerate said, “Even after spreading awareness about how hazardous firecrackers are, people are not co-operating. As of now, the 21 stall owners have been released on bail. We are investigating to check if they have hidden any firecrackers in their houses or other places. We are also trying to find out where the firecrackers were brought from.”

Meanwhile, two people identified as Shrinivas Ramlu Ramgiri, 37, and Rakesh jagdish Rathod,32, both Bhiwandi residents, were arrested for bursting firecrackers on a road at Bhiwandi.

An inspector from Bhiwandi city police station said, “Both the accused were spotted bursting firecrackers and flinging some on the highway despite vehicles passing by. Although the deadline was 10pm, they were caught red handed after 10.30pm. Also they were bursting with hig-decibel firecrackers, which is against the rules.”