Even as the city police refused to impose curbs on New Year revelry in Mysuru in the wake of the blast in Bengaluru on Sunday, instructions will be issued hotels and clubs hosting parties to ensure that they install CCTV cameras to monitor entry and exit of people into their premises.
Though most of hotels and other establishments have installed CCTV cameras, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) A.N. Rajanna said directions would be issued to police inspectors to verify if the CCTV surveillance is functional.
However, he said there was no reason for people in the city to nurse any anxiety over peaceful New Year celebrations. “Mysuru has always been a peaceful city. There is no need for anybody to panic. We are taking all these steps as a precautionary measure,” he said.
It may be mentioned here that the senior police officials in the State had expressed disappointment over the absence of CCTV cameras outside the hotel on Church Street in Bengaluru, where a blast on Sunday claimed one life.
Mr. Rajanna said hotels and clubs in the city had their own private security, but instructions had been given to them to carry out routine checks of visitors, particularly guests from outside the State. “If they need any assistance, the city police will provide it,” he said.
Denying that there was any proposal to advance the deadline fixed for New Year revelry, he said hotels and clubs hosting parties had to obtain special permission from the city police and Excise Department to keep their establishments open till 1 a.m. on New Year day.
“The regular deadline for hotels and commercial establishments to close at 10.30 p.m. and bars and liquor stores to close at 11 p.m. will stay. But, they have the option to keep them open till 1 a.m. for the New Year after obtaining an NoC from the city police and permission from the Excise Department,” he said.
Crackdown The city police will, however, crackdown on two-wheeler riders performing “wheelies” or reckless driving.
“We know the spots they choose to indulge in wheelies and have barricaded the areas. If anybody is found performing wheelies or reckless driving, serious action will be taken,” he said.
Mr. Rajanna also sought to caution miscreants, who pluck coconuts from houses in residential areas or indulge in other mischief during the night. “Residents coming across such miscreants can call the police control room on 100,” he added.
