Over 60 booked in Noida for drunken driving

NOIDA: As many as 63 people have been booked for allegedly creating nuisance after drinking in the city.
Police examined more than 2, 000 people for drunken driving on Thursday and Friday after receiving an order from the police commissioner.
"Officers from all police stations of Noida examined 2,199 people on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or of consuming alcohol at a public place. Nearly 63 people were charged under IPC Section 290 for creating a public nuisance. Such drives will be regularly conducted now with greater vigilance,”the Noida police said in a statement.
According to police officers, cases of drunken driving are common across Noida and Greater Noida. "We get around 25-35 cases every day where people drive under the influence of alcohol or create a nuisance. There are also frequent reports of fights and brawls in pubs. However, most of them are managed without the lodging of an official complaint," said Ranvijay Singh, the additional commissioner of police (ACP) of Noida police.
The vigilant checks of individuals in Noida began in the wake of a pub brawl earlier this week in Gardens Galleria Mall in Sector 38, which led to the death of Noida resident Brijesh Rai. Investigation in that case so far reveals that the scuffle between the pub staff and 30-year-old Rai’s friends began after the latter were agitated on receiving a bill that was higher than they had anticipated.
Following the incident, police have increased surveillance around Gardens Galleria Mall.
Police has also increased presence in the district amid the latest restrictions in place to curb Covid-19, along with the upcoming festival season.
They are also conducting checks on the use of loudspeakers at religious and other public places.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Eid celebration, police commissioner Alok Singh visited areas marked sensitive, including Jama Masjid in Sector 8, with mixed religious population on the last Friday before the festival.
He has also instructed all officials in these areas to be ready with protective gear such as helmets and body shields in case of any emergencies.