The security has been beefed up in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh just ahead of New Year’s eve to ensure that the celebrations pass off smoothly in the region.
In Haryana, the police have made elaborate arrangements across the state, said the officials. Especially, the cities, like Gurugram and Faridabad have been provided the extra force to keep around the corner vigil. Detailed Instructions have been issued by Haryana Director General of Police (DGP), BS Sandhu to all field units wherein they have been directed to deploy a maximum force on foot patrolling, mobile patrolling and police check post at crowded and sensitive places, said an official spokesperson of the state government. Action against hooliganism and drunken driving shall be in focus and safely of citizen, specially women shall be the priority of the police, added the spokesperson.
Similarly, in Punjab, the field units have been directed to ensure smooth flow of traffic and safe driving and compliance with the motor vehicle act. Additional police force has been provided from training centres. In important towns like Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana in Punjab, police have been deployed in strength to keep an eye on the revellers during the New Year celebrations. Check barriers have been set up at various other places, including important railway stations and bus stands and police are also checking vehicles at various places, including inter-state barriers to keep an eye on anti-social elements, said a senior Punjab police official requesting anonymity. The authorities have asked the hotels in the region to keep an eye on strangers and inform the police about any suspicious movements.
In Chandigarh also, over 2,000 police personnel have been deployed at prominent places, including city’s entry and exit points. Police officials said that pub, restaurant and nightclub owners have been asked to hire bouncers and deploy additional security men to avoid any untoward incident inside their complexes.