Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: People for Animals (PFA) Sikkim wants heads to roll. The animal welfare group filed a formal complaint at the Sadar Police Station on November 10. They demand police identify and punish those ignoring the state firecracker ban. It is not a new rule. The government first prohibited the manufacture, sale, and use of all firecrackers back on December 19, 2014.
Multiple orders support the prohibition. This includes a 2020 Chief Secretary directive and a November 3, 2026, circular from the Inspector General of Police. Despite this, the law is being ignored. PFA members claim firecrackers continue to detonate across the state. They linked the practice to a recent tree fire at MG Marg in Gangtok and a separate blaze at Namchi District Hospital.
PFA General Secretary Rebina Rai and her team claim they have proof. They hold photographs and video footage of the violations. These will be handed over to authorities. The noise causes panic among dogs, cats, and other animals. It also endangers the health of senior citizens, infants, asthma sufferers, and heart patients. The group argues the law protects everyone.
The organization is ready to escalate. They might file a Public Interest Litigation with the Sikkim High Court if the police do not step up. They cite the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 as potential tools for prosecution. The police must crack down on illegal sales and storage immediately.
The official complaint issued a sharp ultimatum regarding the lack of enforcement. "Government notifications and police directives must not remain mere documents; they must be implemented effectively on the ground," the document stated.
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