Bengaluru Police begin action on online sale of non-green crackers following KSPCB directive

In a concerted effort to enforce environmental regulations, the Bengaluru City Police have intensified actions against the online sale of non-green firecrackers after receiving directives from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

Following complaints from citizen advocacy groups, the KSPCB has banned the manufacture, stocking, and sale of non-green crackers and restricted firecracker usage to green variants between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. from October 31 to November 2.

Also read: Amidst Deepavali, Bengaluru sees surge in eye injuries due to unsafe use of firecrackers

On October 26, Bengaluru's Bandepalya Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Shivananda Stores, which had allegedly been advertising and selling non-green crackers through the online platform bookcrackers.com. The shop owner faces charges under Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for negligent handling of combustible materials, as well as under the Explosives Act, 1884.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently conducted a video conference with Deputy Commissioners and Police Superintendents across Karnataka, urging strict compliance with the green-cracker-only mandate for Deepavali. He emphasized the importance of careful regulation around the storage, transport, and sale of crackers, referencing last year’s tragic fire incident at a cracker godown near the state border.

City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda has instructed local police to closely monitor shops and commercial establishments for illegal cracker sales. Additionally, the Cyber Crime Police have issued warnings against online ads promoting banned firecrackers, underlining the city’s commitment to a safer, eco-friendly festival season.