Surat Police has issued a stringent warning to potential troublemakers ahead of the New Year's Eve celebrations, stating that anyone disrupting the festive peace will face immediate jail time. Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut outlined an extensive security blueprint to ensure a safe and orderly transition into 2026 for the diamond city's citizens.
Massive Security Blanket with High-Tech Surveillance
To maintain law and order on December 31, the police force is deploying an impressive arsenal. A dedicated force of 5,000 personnel will be on the ground, supported by 382 breath analysers, 180 laser-enabled devices, and 20 surveillance drones. The city's entry and exit points will be heavily monitored through 45 internal checkpoints and 12 border checkpoints, manned by joint teams from local stations, the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB), Special Operations Group (SOG), and traffic police.
Commissioner Gahlaut urged the public to cooperate by planning to return home by approximately 12:30 am after the New Year welcome to avoid any inconvenience. He explicitly warned against drinking, drug consumption, rash driving, and creating public disturbances, emphasising that such actions could lead to imprisonment. Route diversions have been pre-planned for areas anticipating large crowds.
Zero Tolerance for Drugs and Illegal Parties
In a significant move, the police will conduct on-the-spot drug testing using saliva and urine kits. Specialised teams from SOG, DCB, and local police stations' D-staff have been equipped with anti-narcotics kits for immediate deployment. These teams will focus on upscale and popular areas including Althan, Vesu, Adajan, Pal, Rander, Piplod, and City Light.
"Drug suspects will be tested on the spot using these kits. Saliva and urine samples will be collected for immediate testing, with results available within minutes. FIRs under the NDPS Act will be registered immediately against those who test positive," Gahlaut stated. Furthermore, while 13 applications for organised parties are under process, the police will maintain a strict vigil against any illegal gatherings. As a preventive measure, 55 anti-social elements, including externed persons, have already been sent to jail under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA).
Tech-Driven Monitoring and Crowd Control
The security strategy heavily incorporates technology for real-time monitoring. Apart from the drone fleet that will keep an eye on party hotspots and deserted zones, solar-powered cameras will be installed in open areas like Dumas to provide live video feeds to the control room. Field personnel will be equipped with body-worn cameras, and 50 AI-based cameras will stream footage directly to the central command.
This comprehensive plan underscores the Surat Police's determination to prevent any untoward incidents and ensure that citizens can ring in the New Year safely and joyfully. The clear message from the top is that revelry should not cross the line into lawlessness, with the force fully prepared to act decisively against violators.
