This Holi, throwing colour, balloons at strangers can get you into trouble in Mumbai

mumbai

Updated: Mar 11, 2017 15:17 IST

This Holi, prepare to face police action if you spray colour water or throw water-filled balloons at strangers or pedestrians. The Mumbai police on Friday issued prohibitory orders against doing so between March 12 and March 17.

As per the prohibitory order, “Public utterances of obscene words or slogans or singing of obscene songs is prohibited and so is the use of gestures or mimetic representations and preparations, exhibition or dissemination of pictures, symbols, placards or any other objects or things which may offend the dignity, decency or morality.”

It also stated, “The practice of spraying or throwing colour water on pedestrians or unknown persons and preparation of throwing balloons filled with colour or plain water or any liquid is also prohibited.”

Extra personnel have also been deployed around the city with extra forces on the streets, beaches and other sensitive spots to ensure a safe, incident-free Holi.

Police stations around beaches have already been instructed to increase patrolling and keep an eye out for miscreants as many revelers visit beaches after playing Holi in the afternoon.

Keeping in mind the safety of women, police teams will also have anti-eve teasing squads and patrol vans with women officers to quickly address such issues.

A police source said that extra attention would be paid to the stretch between Bandra and Malwani as it is more populated and has more beaches such as Gorai, Aksa and Juhu in the vicinity apart from seafronts like Bandstand and Carter Road.

“We have organised a heavy police bandobast for an incident-free Holi. The entire Mumbai police force will be on duty and additional help has been called in from State Reserve Police Force,” said Mumbai police spokesperson and deputy commissioner of police Ashok Dudhe. Teams from homeguards, force-one and quick response team would also be on stand-by, he added.

The Mumbai traffic police will also keep an eye at various checkpoints across the city. A senior traffic official said that arrangements have been made to identify motorists and bikers who flout regulations during festivals.

“Getting away with a traffic offence this Holi is almost impossible as you will not only be watched by the traffic police but also by the CCTV cameras,” said a traffic police officer.

Nakabandis have arranged at all important junctions to check for drink and drive cases. The police would also keep a check on bikers riding without helmet and riding triple seat, claimed a police source.

Also read:Mumbai police to tighten security for Holi