02 March,2010 09:59 AM IST | | Kaumudi Gurjar
Go in for some good, old-fashioned policing and Bombay Police Act to maintain law and order
This Holi, the police did it differently. Unlike the 17-point code of conduct issued especially for the Festival of Colours last year, the police this time made do with regulations imposed under the Bombay Police Act and the CrPC.
"Police officials were deployed on the roads for Holi," said Joint Commissioner of Police Rajendra Sonawane. "The police took prohibitory action under Bombay Police Act Section 68 and 69, and CrPC Section 151(1) and 151(3)."
Sonawane added, "There was a ban on taking leave for policemen, and even weekly-offs were cancelled to ensure law and order in the city."
Last year, the police had issued a 17-point code of conduct, which banned lighting bonfires in open spaces and on public roads, and in slums and other fire-prone areas. They had appealed to the public to not throw water balloons on two-wheeler riders and warned againstu00a0 harassment of students preparing for exams.
Though this year there was no separate code of conduct for Holi, the police rounded up people with criminal records. According to information shared by the police control room, action was taken against 290 people under the Bombay Police Act Section 68 and 69, and 94 people were detained under Section 151(1) of the CrPC, while 26 were detained under Section 151(23) of CrPC. Prohibitory orders were issued against 24 people, and 16 were arrested under the Motor Vehicle Act 1985 for drink-driving.
