Defying the directives of the District Magistrate (DM) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), firecracker shops in the Chhata Bazar market have opened for business. Most shops in the market remained open even on Sunday, with firecrackers being sold openly in complete disregard of the rules.
When a team from *Dainik Jagran* investigated the Chhata Bazar market on Sunday evening, they found several firecracker shops open, with crowds of customers present at the stalls.
Meanwhile, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Nagar police station, JP Singh, stated that action would be taken against those operating firecracker shops without a license. Furthermore, steps are being taken to file an FIR—as directed by a magistrate—following the recent sealing of two firecracker warehouses. Previously, the Nagar police had conducted raids in the Chhata Bazar and Gudri areas, uncovering two warehouses stocked with firecrackers worth crores of rupees.
Both warehouses were sealed by the magistrate. Moreover, not a single firecracker dealer in the district has had their license renewed, nor have any new licenses been issued. Despite this, shops continue to operate. It should be noted that, under National Green Tribunal (NGT) regulations, the sale and storage of firecrackers are strictly prohibited within the urban area of Muzaffarpur.
Following administrative orders, nine special task forces were formed—one for each of the city’s nine police station jurisdictions—to take action against those illegally trading in firecrackers.
However, these teams are nowhere to be seen, even though they were constituted under the DM’s explicit orders. Had these teams remained active in their respective areas, the shops likely would not have opened. On one hand, there are official orders and occasional raids—measures the administration typically employs ahead of Diwali to prevent the sale of firecrackers—but on the other, enforcement often slackens after just one or two raids. Recently, the SDO (East) and the SDPO (City-1) conducted a raid at the firecracker market and ordered all shopkeepers to remove their firecracker stocks. This order, however, proved to be nothing more than a mere facade. Questions are now being raised regarding the true intent behind these orders and the raid.
