In a major pre-emptive strike against drunk driving and public intoxication during the New Year celebrations, the Surat police launched a rigorous special drive, resulting in legal action against a staggering 690 individuals for various liquor-related offences. The crackdown, aimed at ensuring public safety, saw a significant number of detentions across the city's police stations.
Surat Drive: A District-Wide Enforcement
The police action, focused on drunkards, drug addicts, and bootleggers, led to the booking of 529 people for being found in a drunken state. The Pandesara police station recorded the highest number of such cases, apprehending 106 individuals. Other areas with significant numbers included Sachin (53), Khatodara (39), Bhestan (30), and Udhna (29).
Simultaneously, the drive targeted drink-and-drive offences, a primary cause of road accidents. The police booked 135 motorists for driving under the influence and promptly seized their vehicles. Katargam police led this charge with 16 cases, followed by Sachin (11) and Limbayat (10).
This intense action was not limited to a single day. On December 30, the police had already booked 130 persons for drink-and-drive and another 137 for consuming liquor. Combined, the police acted against a total of 957 liquor-related cases in the last two days of 2025, showcasing their commitment to maintaining order during the festive rush.
Neighbouring Districts Follow Suit
The crackdown echoed in the neighbouring Valsad district, where police undertook a massive operation ahead of the New Year. Since Sunday, they caught a total of 1,149 people for drunken offences. A remarkable 564 of these arrests were made on Thursday night alone, including 185 for drink-and-drive and 379 for public intoxication.
To execute this, the district police established vehicle checks at 17 check posts across Valsad and conducted additional checks at 36 locations within various police station areas. Breath analysers were used extensively on the spot to identify offenders. A police officer emphasized the drive's core objective: "The primary focus is to prevent road accidents. Timely police action can save lives, while law-abiding citizens are protected by keeping drunk persons off the roads." This action is critical as many people return from popular party destinations like Daman and Silvassa during the year-end week, a period historically marred by serious accidents involving drunk drivers on regional highways.
Heavy police deployment and checking were also replicated on highways across Surat district to deter drunk driving and prevent accidents.
Vadodara Joins the Festive Safety Net
The enforcement wave reached Vadodara as well, where police arrested 72 persons for consuming alcohol and driving on New Year's Eve. The drive, which began at 8 pm on Wednesday and continued until early Thursday morning, involved checking 3,200 vehicles. During these checks, 363 vehicles were found suspicious due to missing licence plates, leading to the detention of 104 such vehicles.
A Record Year for PASA in Surat
In a related development highlighting the annual law and order efforts, Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut set a city record in 2025. He invoked the stringent PASA (Prevention of Anti-Social Activities) Act against 1,016 criminals, the highest number in a single year in Surat's policing history. Additionally, 298 persons were externed from the city to maintain peace.
The breakdown of PASA arrests reveals its use against a wide spectrum of crimes:
- 27 individuals were booked for cybercrime.
- 24 were loan sharks.
- 17 were textile cheaters.
- 6 were diamond cheaters.
- Approximately 357 bootleggers were jailed under PASA.
- 53 persons involved in sexual harassment cases were also sent to jail under this act.
The coordinated police actions across Surat, Valsad, and Vadodara underscore a determined effort to curb alcohol-fuelled violations and ensure safer roads and public spaces during the high-spirited year-end celebrations.
