Cops take guard for New Year watch

Special combat squads,the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the five regional zones,special officers in plainclothes and a bunch of trained women constables constituting the anti-eveteasing squad will keep a close watch on activities.

“Our focus will be on crowd management,special protection and precautions to protect women from anti-social elements and a complete security watch with the help of CCTV cameras,” said Himanshu Roy,Joint commissioner of Police (law and order).

The efforts also include a new strategy. “We will keep single men away from crowds.” The locations where these measures will be in force include the Gateway of India and Juhu.

“This year,we will not wait for midnight for any incident to occur. We will start taking action against such people from six in the evening of December 31.”

Specially-trained women constables in plainclothes will act as “decoys” to trap eveteasers.

This will also be the year when the ban on parties on boats and launches will be removed. “We have asked owners of boats and launches to meet us tomorrow. We will issue guidelines for them to follow. We are not against partying on the sea,but security measures should be adhered to. We are asking to verify names and identities of the guests with us. The Coast Guard and customs will co-coordinate with us.”

Besides the ample number of uniformed officials across the city,there will also be special teams,formed along with the traffic police,to ensure there is no drunken driving. There will be equal number of commando and plainclothed officials at all locations where crowds are expected.

The police have launched a hotline,226333333,which they say will function for 24 hours on the eve of New Year. “This will be one number where anyone in distress can call. This is an official helpline only for that day,” added Roy.

Not wanting to comment on a political party’s warning to the city to “stop partying at 12”,the joint commissioner added— “we have 3 am as the deadline decided by the state. Police are the only authorized body to take action against anyone. I would not want to comment further.”