Mumbai police rolls up their sleeves to ensure a safe New Year's

With Christmas and New Year’s just about three weeks away, the Mumbai police is all geared up to make sure the city enjoys and welcomes 2014 with happiness and not fear.

From Monday, the police are going to start checking the party arrangements at several pubs and discotheques. Crowded places such Marine Drive, Girgaum Chowpatty, Bandra Bandstand, Carter Road in Bandra will be under close scrutiny as these are the favourite haunts.

Krishna Prakash, additional commissioner of police (south region), said, “Along with making sure that women are not molested or eve-teased, we will also have to keep a close watch on terror activities. This time of the year many people come to Mumbai to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. Crowded places will be under close scrutiny as well as all the hotels and pubs to ensure all necessary measures have been taken for patrons’ safety. There is going to be a zero-tolerance attitude towards any kind of misbehavior towards women.”

Prakash added that they would distribute stickers with a message to private car owners who have agreed to stick it on their vehicles. The sticker will warn people not to touch any suspicious objects and report any suspicious person by dialing the control room number.

The police, some in plainclothes, will conduct checks across the city. The police have also alerted their informer’s network and have asked them to keep a close watch in their respective areas and report even on slightest of suspicion.

The policemen’s leave application between December 25 and December 31 has been cancelled. Only in case of emergency and sickness will a policeman be allowed to take leave, in which case, the reason given would first be checked. In a bid to curb molestation and eve-teasing incidents, the Mumbai police has started keeping a close watch outside schools, colleges and railway stations. These spots are where maximum incidents of molestation and eve-teasing take place.

Dedicated teams, which include at least two policewomen, will be deployed at railway stations during peak hours and also at schools and colleges. “Young girls are more prone to be targeted by molesters,” said a senior police officer.

Men gather outside colleges to harass students when they start filing out. They will be arrested and booked under relevant sections of the IPC.