Delhi Police have seized more than 2.5 tonnes of illegal firecrackers in two operations and arrested five people as authorities intensify efforts to restrict the supply of prohibited fireworks ahead of the festive season.
The Crime Branch recovered 2,260 kg of firecrackers from two commercial vehicles near Carnival Resort in Alipur on October 13. Four people were arrested in the operation, and police seized 87 parcels containing different varieties of firecrackers.
According to officials, the consignments had been procured from Rakesh Sood & Sons in Kurali, Punjab, for delivery to recipients in Delhi. One vehicle was carrying 1,350 kg of firecrackers, while the second contained 910 kg.
The arrested persons were identified as drivers Lovekush, 24, and Chandan Kumar Bhagat, 35, and helpers Vikas, 18, and Raja Yadav, 19. A senior police officer said during interrogation that the drivers disclosed that one consignment had been loaded by a person identified as Sandeep Bansal and the other by Rahul. Both consignments were intended for delivery at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar.
A case has been registered under Sections 223(b) and 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 9B of the Explosives Act. The sections invoked relate to the alleged handling and movement of materials in violation of legal requirements.
In a separate operation in the Bhalswa Dairy area, police seized another 338.5 kg of firecrackers and arrested Rahul, 29. The Anti-Auto Theft Squad intercepted him near Yadav Chowk on October 13 and recovered three boxes from a plastic sack.
Police subsequently searched Rahul’s residence and recovered additional firecrackers. Together, the two operations resulted in the seizure of approximately 2,598.5 kg of firecrackers, or nearly 2.6 tonnes.
The seizures come as Delhi Police step up action against the sale and supply of illegal firecrackers before the festive period. Such enforcement operations involve not only the recovery of fireworks from local storage and transport points but also efforts to identify the supply chains connecting outside suppliers with distributors and recipients in the Capital.
Officials said investigations are continuing to identify the suppliers, trace the distribution networks and establish the involvement of other individuals. The inquiry is also examining the movement of the consignments towards Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar and the source of the stock recovered in Bhalswa Dairy.
