Ludhiana: Cracker sellers meet DCP, allege shop allottees selling licences to others

Firecracker sellers today visited the office of the Commissioner of Police (CP) here. They alleged that the traders who had been allotted shops through draw of lots at the grain market this time have futher selling their licences in lakhs of rupees to other persons. They met DCP Shubham Aggarwal in this regard.

The traders said the allottees had no knowledge of how to sell or buy firecrackers or how to ensure safety at shops.

One of the oldest firecracker traders, Ashok Thapar, said 66 shops were set up by the Ludhiana Fire Worker Association in 2016. In 2022, a writ was filed in the high court, after which the court ordered that only 50 shops could be set up at the grain market, Ludhiana.

Thapar said around the association had 40 members who had been doing the business of crackers for about 40 years. They had also bought the stock in January itself but now they would be in a complex situation as the shops were not allotted to them.

He said the 40 persons who won the draw of lots were now planning to sell licences of their shops for Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. Through the practice, crackers would be sold at high prices as the entire burden would be put on customers.

DCP Shubham Aggarwal said as per the government policy, any person could apply for a licence to sell firecrackers. The draws were conducted in a transparent manner. Those who had been allotted shops should run the same. If anyone sells the shop to someone else, action would be taken against him. It was also mandatory to display licence in the shops.