Thiruvananthapuram police yet to book offenders for burning plastic, rubber

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Around two weeks after State Police Chief (SPC) Loknath Behra issued a circular ordering police officers to prosecute people who burn plastic and rubber, city police are yet to start booking cases. While a section of officials said they were ignorant about such a circular, others said that they did not receive complaints as citizens themselves did not know that it was a serious crime.

“We used to routinely fine people who dump waste on the roadside, especially beside NH. We can use the same law against those who burn. However, burning is considered as a way of disposing of waste and no one seemed to raise a complaint as there are no sustainable alternatives,” said a police official attached to Fort subdivision.

In 2011, the state police had set up a nodal officer to look after such offences and IG Traffic used to look into such violations. However, later the office of IG Traffic itself became a non-existent entity. As per the circular by SPC based on a high court order, police shall be the first mode in initiating action against burning of plastic and rubber in public. They should also do requisite prosecutions as the next step, says order released on June 26.

The police can book suspects under sections 268 of IPC (public nuisance), section 269 (negligent act likely to spread disease dangerous to life) and section 278 (making atmosphere noxious to health) of the Indian Penal Code. Police should submit the charge sheet to the court and further action would be decided by the court.