Kolkata: The relentless assault of firecrackers on Kolkata continued through Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday but fell significantly in the evening with violations reported from only a few pockets. With police closely monitoring immersion processions along designated routes, bursting of illegal crackers was largely restricted.
More than 5,000 police personnel were deployed across immersion zones to maintain law and order. Police records showed that 327 people were arrested on Monday for offences connected with the festivities. Of them, 74 were arrested for bursting crackers outside the permitted hours, while 253 were held for unruly behaviour and indecency. Cops also seized over 350 kg of firecrackers and 46 litres of illicit liquor between Monday and Tuesday evening and registered five more FIRs.
The numbers are set to rise further by midnight, officers said. Disaster management teams were also kept on standby.
Police sources maintained that the quantities of prohibited firecrackers and illicit liquor seized were substantially lower than last year’s recoveries.