Calcutta police have seized 41.4kg of banned firecrackers and arrested 126 people from across the city for bursting them on Sunday night in response to the Prime Minister’s call for a nationwide lumiere show as a mark of unity in fighting Covid-19.

The cracker haul during Diwali usually runs into thousands of kilograms, but even the 41kg haul has surprised several police officers The Telegraph spoke to as it comes during the lockdown.

“We are trying so hard to create awareness and make people understand the dangers of the coronavirus and why they should remain inside for their own well-being. And suddenly, these people come out and start bursting crackers as if they are celebrating,” an officer said.

No one was prepared to police a situation where the Prime Minister had asked everyone to light lamps or candles. But people ended up bursting crackers on the road, the officer added. “We spotted several youths bursting crackers on the main road near Narkeldanga. All of them were arrested,” said an officer.

The major seizures were from Tangra, Topsia, Burtolla, Maniktala, Phoolbagan, Patuli, Bowbazar, Narkeldanga, Beleghata, Ekbalpore, Beniapukur, Garfa and Tallah area on Sunday night and Monday morning, Lalbazar sources said.

“It seemed they had stocked firecrackers,” said an officer at the police headquarters.

Another officer said given the strict restrictions during Diwali last year, many had failed to exhaust their stock during the festive season.

Many were arrested for disorderly conduct and violation of the lockdown as they stepped out on the roads. The men arrested for bursting banned firecrackers have been charged under sections of the explosive act, while the ones arrested for violation of lockdown were booked under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code that deals with the disobedience of an order by a government servant.