New Year celebrations reached a feverish pitch at the stroke of midnight. Thousands of revellers, who had gathered in the central business district, burst into jubilation. They burst crackers while cries of Happy New Year rent the air. They also posed for selfies and burst into song and dance.
The police had tightened security in the CBD area and many roads in Koramangala and Indiranagar where revellers were expected to ring in the New Year. Drone cameras, CCTV and giant screens were deployed to keep a close watch over the revellers.
The police personnel did not allow revellers to consume liquor in public. They were seen checking people entering Brigade Road from Cauvery Junction. Several liquor bottles were seized.
According to senior police officials, nearly 12,000 police personnel were deputed to maintain law and order. This is apart from 1,500 home guards and 1,000 civil defence personnel.
The police had earlier announced that New Year celebrations will not be allowed beyond 2 a.m. They had also banned movement of vehicles on flyovers in the city till 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
With crowds swelling in the CBD area, police had to resort to mild caning on a few occasions. Repeated announcements were also being by the police, asking revellers to keep moving. Overall, no untoward incidents were reported.
Families that had arrived in CBD areas were escorted to safe areas by police personnel.
Earlier in the day, Home Minister M.B. Patil, accompanied by Director General and Inspector General of Police Neelamani Raju, inspected the security arrangements that had been put in place.
Drunken driving
The traffic police had a solution to keep boisterous and inebriated revellers off the roads. They had booked as many as eight marriage halls across the city to detain those caught for drunken driving until their hangover comes down.
The traffic police were instructed to seize vehicles and detain the offenders in the nearest marriage halls where they were to remain until 6 a.m.
On Monday. P. Harishekaran, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said that these offenders would also be levied a fine. Around 2,000 traffic policemen were deployed at strategic locations for the special drive. They were also instructed to patrol highways, arterial roads and the NICE Road.
“We are doing this to ensure safety of motorists and their family members,” he added.