Ahead of the New Year celebrations, the Mangaluru City Police has rolled out a stringent set of regulations to ensure public safety and maintain order across the city. The comprehensive guidelines mandate prior permissions for events and impose several restrictions to prevent unruly behavior.
Mandatory Permissions and Event Timings
City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH has declared that all hotels, restaurants, clubs, and resorts intending to host New Year events must secure prior approval from the office of the respective Assistant Commissioner of Police. The deadline for submitting applications is 5 pm on or before December 23. The police have warned that no celebration will be allowed without this clearance, and legal action will be taken against violators.
Furthermore, all New Year programmes are instructed to conclude by 12:30 am. The use of sound systems or loudspeakers also requires separate permission from the competent authority and must follow the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, and Supreme Court directives. Notably, the use of DJs has been explicitly prohibited.
Strict Bans on Substances and Immoral Activities
The police have issued a clear ban on the storage and consumption of prohibited narcotic substances at any New Year event. The guidelines also forbid obscene dances, indecent performances, gambling, and any other activities deemed immoral conducted in the name of celebration.
While the sale and distribution of liquor will be permitted with valid excise department licenses, organizers must strictly adhere to all conditions. Smoking and alcohol consumption are banned in public places including bus stands, parks, playgrounds, and railway stations. Authorities have also cautioned students and youth against indulging in unruly behavior in public spaces, promising strict action.
Safety Measures and Special Enforcement
Organizers have been directed to implement robust safety arrangements. These include ensuring fire safety measures, arranging emergency medical vehicles, and deploying sufficient security personnel. They must also create separate parking facilities to prevent obstruction of public roads. At events serving alcohol, entry is prohibited for minors below 18 years.
To safeguard women and girls from harassment, special police teams will be deployed throughout the city. Additionally, special squads comprising traffic police and experts will monitor and crack down on drunken driving. Vehicles of offenders will be seized, and legal action will be initiated under drink-and-drive laws.
The police have also banned stunts like wheeling, drag racing, and rash driving, along with acts that cause excessive noise. Consumption of alcohol and indecent behavior on beaches and other public places is prohibited. Bursting crackers in a manner that disturbs public peace will not be allowed.
