Kolkata, Oct 18 (IANS) Kolkata Police on Saturday raided the city and seized more than 600 kg of banned crackers, officials said. During this, the police arrested Mohammad Zeeshan (23), resident of Tiljala of Topsia police station area. According to the police, three nylon bags and 25 paper boxes containing various types of prohibited crackers, including shells, crackers and chocolate bombs, weighing a total of about 600 kg, were seized. During police interrogation, Zeeshan revealed that he had bought banned crackers to take to Asansol in West Burdwan district. After all the legal formalities were completed, the goods were confiscated. “A case has been registered at the Maidan police station under Section 9(B) of the Indian Explosives Act, as well as Section 61(2)/223 (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” said a senior Kolkata police officer. Meanwhile, the police said that till October 17, around 1,315 kg of illegal coconuts were recovered from the Patuli, Dhalai Bridge and Garia Crossing areas of Kolkata, while 36 kg of coconuts were seized from the Bansdroni area. “We are conducting raids and awareness campaigns across Kolkata to curb illegal sale and use of banned firecrackers,” the officer said. Kolkata Police on Friday issued strict guidelines for Diwali and Kali Puja celebrations, allowing the use of only eco-friendly firecrackers. According to the guidelines, the bursting of green crackers will be allowed only for a period of two hours, from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm on October 20, with the aim of curbing pollution and ensuring public safety. The Kolkata police decision comes days after the Calcutta High Court pulled out of the state government and asked if it was ready to ban fire crackers. Following the high court’s comments, Kolkata police have stepped up surveillance and enforcement and started using drones to monitor high rooftops and narrow streets as part of a city-wide campaign to crack down on the sale and bursting of banned firecrackers. –IANS MS/DKP
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