5 held in Gzb for causing air pollution

Ghaziabad: Five labourers, engaged in burning coal tar drums to melt their contents, were arrested on charges of disturbing peace after residents of housing societies in Raj Nagar Extension complained of air pollution in the early hours of Sunday.
Thick black acrid smoke enveloped the area around 1 am on Sunday. Residents from nearly half a dozen housing societies rushed out, fearing fire in their apartments.
“The stench from the smoke was unbearable.We soon realized that the smoke was emanating from fires on a vacant plot near Meerut Road. When we reached there, we saw several workers burning coal tar drums to melt their contents. We didn’t have any idea who employed the labourers to burn the drums,” said Vikrant Sharma, an environmental activist who lives in Raj Nagar Extension.
The workers resisted when the residents dissuaded them from burning the tar. A call was made to the police control room by one of the residents following which a PCR van arrived on the spot and took the workers into custody.
A complaint in this regard was registered at Sihani Gate police station by Madhusudan Bharadwaj, a resident of Gaur Cascade apartments. An FIR was filed under Section 278 (making atmosphere noxious to health) of IPC, a non-cognizable offence, on the basis of the complaint.
The five workers, who were arrested under Section 151 (arrest to prevent cognizable offences) of CrPC, were sent to judicial custody by a local court on Monday.
“Following the sudden intervention of residents at night, a conflict brewed between them and the workers. Tension was palpable when the police reached the spot and there was every chance of law and order breaking down. Hence, the workers were arrested. They have been sent to judicial custody,” said Avnish Gautam, SHO, Sihani Gate police station.