The time slots stipulated by the Supreme Court and the State government for bursting crackers went up in smoke on Tuesday as many burst crackers through the day. Police registered close to a thousand cases across Tamil Nadu in connection with the violation. Chennai accounted for 343 cases.
The cases were registered largely under sections 188 (Disobedience of order duly promulgated by public servant), 285 (Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 278 (Making atmosphere noxious to health), 286 (Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 268 (Public nuisance), 290 (Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for) of the IPC and sections 74 and 80 of the City Police Act (Causing public nuisance). “All those arrested were released on bail immediately,” said a senior police officer.
In Kancheepuram police district, a total of 63 cases were registered for violation of the time slots for crackers. Mamallapuram police sub-division saw 19 cases being registered. In Vellore district, cases were registered against 50 persons.
In the southern districts, a total of 557 cases were registered. “The highest were Tirunelvelli and Madurai with 137 and 128 cases. Cases were mostly registered under Section 188 and for causing public nuisance,” said a police source.
In Coimbatore district, cases were slapped against 184 persons. In the Nilgiris, the blanket ban on fireworks within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve was largely enforced. However, 19 cases were registered against people in Coonoor, Gudalur, and within Udhagamandalam town and rural limits.
While a total of 104 cases were registered by the Salem police, the Namakkal district police registered 46 cases. A total of 14 cases were registered in Erode district against 18 persons for violating the order. In Krishnagiri district, cases were registered against 34 people, and against 46 persons in Dharmapuri.
In districts of the central region, including Tiruchi and Thanjavur, more than 100 persons were booked.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) received a total of 46 calls from Chennai and 106 from other districts on Tuesday. A total of 500 vehicles and over 6,000 personnel were on standby.
