Bengaluru top-cop issues guidelines, warnings ahead of New Year celebrations in state capital
Bengaluru: As the New Year approaches, the City Police Commissioner, B. Dayanand, held a press conference on Tuesday to outline the preparations and guidelines aimed at maintaining law and order during the celebrations in the state capital.
To prevent any untoward incidents during the festivities, the police have implemented various precautions. Heavy checkpoints have been set up in crowded areas, including popular spots like star hotels, pubs, and clubs. Commissioner Dayanand mentioned that discussions have taken place with multiple departments, including BBMP, Metro, BMTC, Excise, Health, Fire, Pollution Control Board, BMRCL, and BESCOM.
Enhanced police security measures are in place at key locations such as MG Road, Brigade Road, Cubbon Park, Trinity, Phoenix Mall, and clubs. Additionally, Safe Team Islands are being established to ensure the safety of women during the celebrations.
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The police will set up kiosks to provide information about theft in case of missing children. Watchtowers equipped with binoculars have been constructed in strategic surveillance areas, and increased police presence is noted in areas like Indira Nagar and Koramangala.
Commissioner Dayanand emphasized that the consumption of drugs is strictly prohibited, with ongoing detentions and interrogations of drug peddlers. Monitoring of unauthorized liquor storage and vendors in the block is also underway. Drone cameras will be deployed at important locations, and over 10,000 policemen, along with home guards, will be on duty across the city.
For enhanced security, two additional commissioners of police, one joint commissioner of police, 15 DCPs, 160 inspectors, 600 sub-inspectors, 600 ASIs, 1,800 head constables, and 5,200 police constables have been deployed.
To manage traffic, all flyovers will be closed from 11 pm on December 31. New Year celebrations are permitted only until 1 am, and all shops, including hotels and bars, must be closed by this time. Commissioner Dayanand highlighted that police presence will be significant, especially in malls where large gatherings are expected.
Preparations include 48 checkposts to curb activities like wheeling and drag racing. Drunk and drive checks will be conducted at 48 locations to ensure road safety during the celebrations.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
