Police on Tuesday instructed those managing banquet halls across areas under the Bidhannagar commissionerate, including Salt Lake, New Town, Rajarhat, Chinar Park and Baguiati among others, to ensure that firecrackers are not burst by anyone in a marriage party.
The move came after a group of residents of a housing complex in Chinar Park were allegedly beaten up by members of a wedding party when they protested the bursting of firecrackers and blaring of loud music from a mini-truck that had a DJ on board on Sunday night.
A senior officer of Bidhannagar commissionerate said that they had reached out to more than 20 banquet halls and as well as gardens that are let out for marriages and other occasions.
Those in charge of these properties have been instructed to ensure that crackers are not burst and loud music is not played by anyone who has booked these places, he said.
“We have made it clear that firecrackers should not be burst under any circumstances. We have also told them that while it is okay for a marriage party to have bands, dhol and drums playing loud music, especially from soundboxes that are unequipped with decibel limiters, is not allowed,” the officer said.
New Town has several banquet halls, lawns and hotels that are booked for marriage receptions. This being the peak wedding season, most are of these properties are booked to their capacity.
Firecrackers not only cause discomfort to people across age lines but the impact of the sound often sends pets into trauma as their hearing capabilities are much more sensitive than that of humans.
The manager of a banquet hall in Chinar Park said they had received such instructions from the police.
“We always ask our guests to not use crackers either inside or outside the banquet hall,” said the manager.
A group of residents of Loharuka Green Chinar had lodged a complaint with Eco Park police station alleging that some members of a wedding party physically assaulted them when they protested the bursting of crackers while they were headed to a banquet hall near City Centre.
“The cops have assured us of action. We had only protested the bursting of crackers and loud music,” Tapas Dutta, one of the residents of the complex, said.