Kolkata Police arrest 341 in Kali Puja crackdown on banned firecrackers
Synopsis
In one of Kolkata's largest single-night enforcement operations in recent memory, police arrested 341 people during Kali Puja — 95 for banned firecrackers and 246 for disorderly conduct — while seizing 131.1 kg of prohibited fireworks. The crackdown signals that urban administrations are increasingly willing to act, even on festival nights, as courts and regulators tighten pollution norms.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Police arrested 341 people during Kali Puja raids on 9 November 2025 .
95 arrests were for using prohibited firecrackers; 246 for disorderly conduct.
Officers seized 131.1 kg of banned firecrackers and 6 litres of illegal liquor .
The state had permitted only green firecrackers between 8 pm and 10 pm ; bursting within 100 metres of schools and hospitals was banned.
Lalbazar had issued special directives to all city police stations ahead of the festival, keeping the force on high alert.
Violations were reported from several parts of the city, continuing beyond stipulated hours in some areas.
Kolkata Police arrested 341 people across the city on 9 November 2025 during extensive raids on the occasion of Kali Puja, targeting individuals who allegedly burst banned firecrackers and violated law and order norms, officials said on Monday. The enforcement drive also yielded significant seizures, underscoring the administration's resolve to enforce pre-announced restrictions.
Breakdown of Arrests and Seizures
According to data released by the police, 95 people were arrested specifically for using prohibited firecrackers, while 246 others were taken into custody on charges related to disorderly conduct. During the same enforcement drive, officers recovered 131.1 kg of banned firecrackers and 6 litres of illegal liquor from across the city.
Lalbazar's Special Directives
Lalbazar — the Kolkata Police headquarters — had issued special instructions to each police station in the city ahead of the festival. Officers-in-charge and additional officers-in-charge were directed to ensure adequate personnel deployment at their stations through the night of the puja. The force was kept on high alert to prevent any untoward incident.
What the State Rules Allowed
The West Bengal state government had issued guidelines on firecracker use well before the festival. Only green firecrackers were permitted, restricted to the window of 8 pm to 10 pm on the nights of Kali Puja and Diwali. Authorities had additionally prohibited bursting firecrackers within 100 metres of schools, hospitals, and other designated silence zones, warning of stringent legal action against violators. Surveillance was also mandated at these sensitive locations.
Violations Reported Despite Restrictions
Despite these measures, firecracker activity was reported from several parts of Kolkata from Sunday evening onwards, with complaints that violations continued well beyond the stipulated hours in certain areas. Police subsequently launched targeted enforcement operations against offenders. A senior police officer stated that Kolkata Police would enforce the prescribed guidelines strictly and would not compromise on the safety and well-being of city residents.
The scale of the crackdown — over three hundred arrests in a single night — reflects mounting pressure on urban administrations to balance cultural practices with air quality and public health imperatives, a tension that has only intensified in recent years as courts and regulators tighten firecracker norms.
Point of View
But the more telling figure is the 246 held for disorderly conduct — suggesting the festival-night enforcement was as much about public order as about pollution control. Kolkata has seen escalating court pressure on firecracker use in recent years, and this crackdown follows a familiar pattern: strong pre-festival advisories, partial compliance, and post-violation arrests. What is rarely audited is whether these arrests translate into convictions or serve mainly as deterrence optics. If recidivism remains high year-on-year, the administration may need to consider upstream interventions — restricting supply chains for banned firecrackers — rather than relying solely on night-of enforcement.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people did Kolkata Police arrest during Kali Puja 2025?
Kolkata Police arrested 341 people during Kali Puja raids on 9 November 2025. Of these, 95 were held for using banned firecrackers and 246 for disorderly conduct.
What firecrackers are banned in Kolkata during Kali Puja?
The West Bengal government permits only green firecrackers during Kali Puja and Diwali, restricted to the 8 pm–10 pm window. All other firecrackers are prohibited, and bursting any firework within 100 metres of schools, hospitals, or designated silence zones is banned regardless of type.
What did police seize during the Kali Puja crackdown?
Officers recovered 131.1 kg of banned firecrackers and 6 litres of illegal liquor during enforcement raids conducted across Kolkata on the night of Kali Puja.
What instructions did Lalbazar issue before Kali Puja?
Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar sent special directives to every police station in the city, instructing officers-in-charge to ensure adequate personnel deployment through the night of the puja and to maintain surveillance at sensitive locations such as hospitals and schools.
Were firecracker violations widespread despite the restrictions?
Yes, firecracker activity was reported from several parts of Kolkata from Sunday evening, with complaints that violations continued beyond the permitted 10 pm deadline in some areas. Police subsequently launched targeted enforcement operations against offenders.
