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Fir against baraatis for disrupting traffic
Band, baaja, baraat may be restricted to Bollywood, only if Varanasi police sets a precedence and leads crackdowns on wedding revellers holding up traffic and disrupting public life.
Band, baaja, baraat may be restricted to Bollywood, only if Varanasi police sets a precedence and leads crackdowns on wedding revellers holding up traffic and disrupting public life.
Acting on a recent complaint, the police has decided to clamp down on wedding processions where baraatis, or wedding guests, dance on roads, burst fire crackers and play loud music, and restrict traffic movement for long hours.
On Friday, the police registered a case against a teacher’s family for disrupting public life and traffic movement in Mehmoorganj area during their relative’s wedding on Thursday evening.
The offence could amount to a maximum of six months in jail and fine, or both.
“We are getting details of the baraatis, the music band and those bursting fire crackers in the middle of the road. Once the culprits are identified, action will be taken,” said Sangam Mishra, station officer, Sigra.
The complaint was filed by Chetan Upadhyaya, a member of Satya Foundation, a city-based NGO. Upadhyaya buttressed his complaint with visuals, including an ambulance van, stuck in traffic, that he recorded on his mobile phone.
“As traffic at the main road outside the marriage lawn was stranded, I tried to convince the baraatis to clear the traffic. But, they said marriages are bound to cause traffic chaos,” said Upadhyaya, who has been campaigning against noise pollution in the city.
