Police promise safer New Year’s Eve in city

This New Year’s Eve, the Mumbai Police will not wait until midnight to act against troublemakers, reports Shailendra Mohan.

This New Year’s Eve, the Mumbai Police will not wait until midnight to act against troublemakers.

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Police sources said this year, monitoring will start by 6 pm to catch eve-teasers and others out looking for trouble. The police will man the usual spots popular with end-of-year revellers.

The police said women constables will also be deployed in plainclothes at these places to identify possible troublemakers.

“Our message to the people is: Enjoy, but responsibly,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Himanshu Roy, adding that a hotline — 22633333 — has been opened this year for any kind of help or emergency.

“All allotted leave has been cancelled and the Mumbai Police will be present on the streets in full strength. Even senior police officers will be on duty,” Roy said, adding that the force will especially keep an out for harassment of women.

“We have seen what happened at the Gateway of India and Juhu in previous years, and we do not want anything like that happening again,” Roy said, referring to the two mob-scale molestation cases of 2007 and 2008 respectively, and the outrage they generated.

Roy said that police security this year will focus on two aspects: Apart from ensuring protection for women, the police will also watch for any possible terror strike.

“There has not been any specific terror alert but we have been getting general alerts,” he explained, adding that bomb squads and Quick Response Teams will also be on standby in case of any emergency.

He said it will be impossible for the police to prohibit single men from visiting any of the popular spots, but added that segregation will be ensured. Police have also been told to come down hard on drunk driving, with strict checks planned to ensure that those consuming alcohol above permissible limits do not get behind the wheel.