Kolkata Police arrested 67 people — including 11 for bursting banned firecrackers and 56 for indecent behaviour and law-and-order violations — and seized approximately 12 kg of prohibited fireworks by 8:30 pm on Monday, 10 November 2025, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The crackdown came a day after Kali Puja, as sporadic violations continued well into the night across Kolkata, Howrah, and several districts of West Bengal.

Scale of Violations Across the State

Despite state government regulations banning certain categories of firecrackers, loud explosions were reported in parts of Kolkata and neighbouring Howrah on Monday evening, though the intensity was reportedly lower than on Kali Puja night itself. Complaints also emerged from Siliguri in north Bengal and multiple areas of Purulia district, where bursting of banned fireworks allegedly continued until late at night.

In Hooghly district, the Arambagh subdivision saw relatively contained violations, according to officials. However, the Chandannagar Police Commissionerate received complaints from several areas including Dankuni, Uttarpara, Rishra, Serampore, Bhadreshwar, Chandannagar, and Chinsurah. Rural police station areas such as Chanditala, Haripal, Tarakeswar, Mogra, and Singur also reported similar incidents.

Districts Reporting Noise Norm Breaches

Firecracker violations and breaches of noise norms and time restrictions were reported from Nadia, Murshidabad, East Burdwan, West Burdwan, and North 24 Parganas districts, according to residents' complaints. Towns including Krishnanagar, Kalyani, Ranaghat, and Santipur saw a similar situation.

In areas under Berhampore, Jangipur, Raghunathganj, Beldanga, and Domkal, residents alleged that noise did not subside even after 10 pm on Monday, in direct violation of prescribed time limits.

Police Personnel Assaulted on Duty

In a concerning development, three people were arrested in two separate incidents after allegedly assaulting on-duty police personnel who attempted to prevent the bursting of banned firecrackers. The incidents occurred in Tiljala in east Kolkata and Netaji Nagar in south Kolkata on the night of Kali Puja, underscoring the enforcement challenges faced by law enforcement during the festive period.

Enforcement Context and What It Signals

This comes amid repeated annual cycles of firecracker bans that face widespread non-compliance during major festivals in West Bengal. The Calcutta High Court and pollution control authorities have previously issued directives limiting firecracker use, citing air quality and noise pollution concerns. Critics argue that enforcement remains inconsistent across jurisdictions, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. The post-Kali Puja crackdown signals an attempt by authorities to demonstrate accountability beyond the festival night itself, though the breadth of violations reported across districts raises questions about deterrence. All eyes will be on whether stricter pre-festival enforcement measures are introduced ahead of next year's cycle.