Massive security, traffic arrangements in place as Bengaluru prepares for New Year crowds
Bengaluru (PTI): With New Year celebrations expected to draw massive crowds, City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh on Wednesday said elaborate security and traffic arrangements have been put in place here, with nearly 20,000 personnel deployed and a special focus on women’s safety.
The deployment includes personnel from law and order, traffic, crime units, reserve platoons, striking parties, anti-sabotage teams, anti-terror teams, and crime squads, totalling close to 20,000 officers.
"Bengaluru is a vibrant city where people, especially for New Year’s, gather not only from the city but from across the state and the country. We are expecting a crowd of around 10 lakh people, so we are geared up for it," Singh told PTI Videos.
He said extensive arrangements have been made after nearly a month of planning. "I hope everything will pass peacefully," the commissioner added.
Highlighting women’s safety measures, Singh said, "We have given primary importance to women’s safety. Based on experiences from previous years, although incidents were not major, we are not taking any chances and have deployed more women staff."
Women's help desks and shelters have been set up across the city, staffed by female police personnel and equipped with medical facilities and ambulances.
"We have asked bars and pubs to employ women bouncers, and for the first time, we have arranged for a maximum number of women drivers, including cab and motor drivers," Singh said.
Emergency response systems have been strengthened through the Karnataka State Police (KSP) app, KSP Connect for Bengaluru city, and the 112 emergency number, all directly linked to the police control room.
"If there is any emergency, the police are there to help. In case of accidents or urgent needs, the police will assist immediately," he said.
On transport arrangements, Singh said Metro services have been extended up to 3 am, while late-night BMTC buses and tempo travellers have been introduced to facilitate the smooth movement of people after celebrations. "This is to ease crowd movement; public transport will be more available post midnight," he added.
He said all bars, pubs, and establishments will close by 1 am, after which police will ensure safe dispersal of crowds.
Singh said police have conducted an extensive drive against drunken driving, booking nearly 4,000 cases in the past week, and strict checks will continue through the night.
Major crowd clusters include MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Koramangala, Indiranagar, Whitefield, and Electronic City, as well as malls and event venues across the city.
Singh urged citizens to cooperate and "celebrate responsibly", assuring that police will help in emergencies while taking strict action against anti-social activities.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
