Cops file 12 FIRs on Diwali for violation of cracker timings

LUDHIANA: The police on Wednesday lodged 12 FIRs against unidentified persons under Section 188 (Disobedience to orders duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC for violating orders under Section 144 of CrPC in which bursting crackers before 8pm and after 10pm on Diwali was banned by the police. Ludhiana deputy commissioner of police Ashwani Kapur had issued the orders in the afternoon on Wednesday.

However, criticising the act, city-based lawyers said that the orders under Section 144 of CrPC come into in effect only after propagation and that the directive didn’t reach the public as it was issued in the afternoon on Diwali.

After the Supreme Court order on bursting crackers only for two hours on Diwali, the Ludhiana police also released a ban on busting crackers before 8pm and after 10pm under Section of 144 of CrPC. However, the orders were released in the afternoon and could not reach the public, said the advocates.

On Wednesday, crackers were being burst till midnight in various areas in the city. Following this, FIRs were filed against unidentified persons at police stations of Division No 1, Division No 5, Division No 8, Haibowal, Jodhewal, Focal Point, Meharban and Moti Nagar.

Ludhiana district bar association president Parupkar Singh Ghuman said, “When orders under Section 144 of CrPC are issued, the same come into effect after circulation among the public. In this matter, if the police have issued the orders on same day then the FIRs are not valid.”

Moreover, the FIRs under Section 188 (Disobedience to orders duly promulgated by Public Servant) of the IPC are lodged under a name and not against unidentified persons, he added.

DCP Ashwani Kapoor said, “The Supreme Court orders were widely published in papers and everyone was aware of the ban on bursting crackers. Therefore, there was no need for issuing orders under Section 144 of CrPC in advance and rather it was for initiation of an internal procedure to lodge FIRs.”

When asked about registering FIRs against unidentified persons, the DCP said, “Residents had informed the police about the violations and the FIRs were filed based on them. The police will identify the suspects through informers and CCTVs for further action.”