Police and Excise departments have drawn up elaborate plans to ensure trouble-free New Year celebrations in the district with intense vehicle checking and patrol to kick off from Saturday.
The District Collector and the District Police Chief (City) have convened special meetings of all stakeholders and enforcement agencies to chalk out plans and preventive measures so that New Year revelry does not go beyond control.
“An intense three-day vehicle checking will start from Saturday. Checking will take place at 10 points within every police station limits during all the three days. Resorts, lodges and venues of New Year eve parties will be inspected and managements will be told that it will be their responsibility as well to keep drugs at bay, booze within permissible limits and to ensure that none leave the premises driving in an inebriated state,” said K. Laljy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ernakulam).
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He said while the police would facilitate and offer security cover for decent celebrations, hooliganism of any sort would be sternly dealt with by slapping troublemakers with non-bailable charges. The Shadow Police would keep a close eye on DJ parties scheduled at 33 venues across the city to ensure that drugs do not creep in to add to the revelry.
Shadow teams
The Excise Department has also intensified vehicle checking, especially at the district entry points. Licensed premises to serve drinks will also come under the scanner.
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Two excise sleuths from each unit will be deployed as a shadow team at venues of DJ parties in Aluva, Kochi and Ernakulam. In Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha areas, the department will conduct joint raids with other agencies to check illegal practices such as distillation for manufacturing arrack.
Control room
“We have divided the district into four areas and deployed four strike force units, which will attend to any emergency within their areas. Each unit will comprise a sub inspector, two preventive officers and three or four civil excise officers,” said K. Chandrapalan, Deputy Excise Commissioner, Ernakulam.
The department has also opened a round-the-clock control room (0484-2390657) at its Ernakulam divisional office.
West Kochi, which is the hub of New Year revelry, will also come under a thick security blanket in the coming days. Traffic regulations will kick in on December 31 afternoon.
Hotels and homestays in the area will be inspected in the days leading up to New Year eve.
“Police patrol will be intensified at Parade Ground and other important points in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. Shadow police teams will watch over DJ parties for drugs on New Year eve,” said S. Vijayan, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mattancherry).
Around 30 buses will be deployed for the New Year revellers to return after celebrations. Ro-ro vessels and a boat of the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) will also operate into the early hours of January 1.