From bars to behind bars on New Year if found suspicious

Standing outside a nightclub inebriated after a New Year’s party could land you in jail, with the Delhi Police deciding to deploy officers in plain clothes to arrest anyone found to be even slightly suspicious.

Standing outside a nightclub inebriated after a New Year’s party could land you in jail with the Delhi Police deciding to deploy officers in plain clothes to arrest anyone found to be even slightly suspicious.

“The idea is to avoid any kind of security threat since antisocial elements try to thrive on the general party mood. Our officers will be out to nab any people who could ruin the night for others. This year, we are not just imposing heavy fines on them but are also taking them under 24-hour detention,” said Anil Shukla, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

Security has been tightened across the city after a blast in Bengaluru last Sunday killed one person with over 80% of the force, including senior officers, out on the streets. Teams comprising local police and counter-terror personnel will be stationed at malls, hotels, airports and railway stations on December 31.

The police has asked bar and pub owners to strictly adhere to a closing time of 1am and not entertain alcohol orders after 11pm. They have also been advised to encourage customers to carpool and take cabs if they order alcohol.

Police officials will also be stationed around popular party destinations such as Saket, Model Town, New Friends Colony, Defence Colony, Vasant Vihar and Nehru Place, armed with alcometers to crack down on drink driving. Officials from the traffic police said over 1000 fresh disposable alcometers have been bought by the department solely for this purpose.

Like every year, Connaught Place will be barricaded 8:30 pm onwards and no vehicle will be allowed to ply in area.