New Delhi: Delhi Police on Thursday seized 693 kilograms of illegal firecrackers of 42 different brands and apprehended one culprit.

According to the police, acting on secret information received by the Crime Branch, the Delhi Police conducted a raid in the Matiala village area of Delhi. It apprehended one person, a 52-year-old resident of the village, Dilbagh Singh.

During the operation, the Police recovered illegal firecrackers from the ground floor of the premises, which were being misused under the cover of an ice cream manufacturing unit. This illegal stock was kept under highly unsafe conditions in a residential area, posing a serious risk to public safety, as per the police.

Subsequently, upon investigation, the accused admitted to having hoarded the firecrackers with the intention of selling them during the upcoming festive season for monetary gain.

Furthermore, the accused disclosed that he had purchased these firecrackers from roadside shops in Kurali, Punjab, where the sale and purchase of firecrackers are not prohibited.

The investigation is currently underway to trace the supply chain of banned firecrackers. The case has been registered under Sections 223(B)/288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 9(B) of the Explosives Act.

Meanwhile, on September 30, the Delhi Police, acting on a tip-off from the Crime Branch, conducted a raid in Samta Vihar, Delhi, where they recovered a significant consignment of 122 kg of banned firecrackers. During the operation, they apprehended a suspect named Radha Raman.

Following his arrest, Radha Raman confessed that he had obtained the firecrackers from Gurugram and intended to sell them at a higher price in the local area.

The investigation is ongoing to trace the entire supply chain associated with the illegal firecrackers. A case was registered under the relevant sections of 223(b)/288 BNS and Section 9B of the Explosive Act at the Crime Branch police station.

Mumbai: is on high alert today, October 2, as two rival factions of the Shiv Sena hold separate, high-stakes Dussehra rallies, promising massive crowds, heavy traffic disruptions, and a significant security deployment across the city.

The Eknath Shinde-led faction continues the Sena’s 1966 tradition with a rally at the NESCO Exhibition Centre in Goregaon at 6:00 PM. Meanwhile, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) will hold its annual event at the traditional venue, Shivaji Park in Dadar West, starting at 5:00 PM. Both events will be key platforms ahead of the crucial local body elections, with leaders addressing issues from farmer support to inflation.

Commuters face severe traffic disruptions and are strongly advised to avoid routes leading to both NESCO and Shivaji Park. Temporary traffic restrictions will be in effect from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

In Goregaon, restrictions include the closure of the entry of vehicles from Lte Mrinaltai Gore Junction to NESCO Gap, and right turns from Ram Mandir via the flyover towards NESCO Gap will be prohibited. Vehicular movement on the NESCO Service Road from Hub Mall towards NESCO / Jaycoach Junction will also be restricted.

Diversions have been set up for vehicles from Ram Mandir, which must take the Mrinaltai Gore Flyover to the WEH South Bound Service Road towards Jaycoach Junction. From there, drivers can use JVLR Road for Powai or proceed on the WEH Service Road to rejoin the main Western Express Highway. Commuters heading towards Dadar should anticipate heavy congestion due to the massive gathering at Shivaji Park.

In anticipation of the political rallies and Durga idol immersion processions coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, Mumbai police have deployed a massive security contingent. Over 16,500 constables and 2,890 officers are on duty, supported by Combat and Riot Control units, Quick Response Teams (QRT), and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS).

Navi Mumbai: Five girls aged between 12 and 17 escaped from ‘Swapnalay’, a government-recognized children’s home in Panvel, early Sunday morning, police said. While four of them have been traced in different locations, the search is still on for the fifth girl.

Police said the girls broke open a window grill around dawn on September 28 and fled the home, which currently houses 39 minors rescued from various cases for rehabilitation. One of the escapees is a victim from Uran, while the others are from Taloja, Panvel, and Karjat areas.

After the escape came to light, caretaker Kavita Pandit informed the superintendent, Child Welfare Committee officials, and the District Child Protection Unit before lodging a complaint with Panvel City Police. A case of kidnapping was registered and a search operation was launched with help from railway police and relatives of the missing girls.

Following coordinated efforts, one girl was found at her grandmother’s house in Chirner, Uran, another was rescued by Bandra railway police and sent to the Dongri children’s home, the third was traced to her mother’s home in Satara district, and the fourth was located in Taloja.

A police official from Panvel City Police said, “Four girls have been safely recovered, and efforts are on to trace the fifth. The girls admitted they ran away as they were unhappy with the restrictions and wanted to live freely.”

Authorities said the investigation is continuing under the supervision of the Child Welfare Committee and Panvel City Police to trace the fifth girl.