Delhi Police chief reviews security, meets staff on Holi

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha on Thursday visited several police deployment points across the national Capital during Holi celebrations to review security arrangements and boost the morale of officers on duty. The police chief interacted with personnel stationed at different locations, extended Holi greetings, and appreciated their commitment to maintaining law and order during the festival.

Officers said the visit was aimed at ensuring that security arrangements across the city were functioning smoothly while also recognising the efforts of police staff working away from their families during the celebrations. During the interaction, Golchha praised the dedication of the deployed personnel and encouraged them to remain vigilant throughout the day. He also distributed sweets to officers and staff at various duty points as a gesture of appreciation for their service during the festival. Senior police officers said elaborate security arrangements had been made across the Capital to ensure that Holi celebrations remained peaceful and incident-free.

Police teams maintained a strong presence in markets, residential areas, and busy intersections to prevent any untoward incidents. Officials said extensive ground visibility was ensured through continuous patrolling and the setting up of multiple checking pickets across the city.

Personnel from district police units, traffic police, and PCR teams were deployed at key locations to monitor public activity and prevent unruly behaviour.

Police teams were particularly focused on checking dangerous driving, drunken behaviour, and other public nuisances that sometimes occur during festival celebrations. Officers were stationed at strategic locations to conduct vehicle checks and ensure that traffic rules were followed.

Special attention was also given to public safety, especially for women. A significant number of women police personnel were deployed across several parts of the city to provide assistance and maintain security in crowded areas.

The commissioner visited several important duty points during his tour of the city. These included Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar Market, South Extension Market, Pankha Road, Dabri, Vikaspuri, and Peera Garhi Chowk. He also met personnel deployed at Prashant Vihar in Rohini, Mukarba Chowk, Kingsway Camp, ISBT Kashmere Gate, Welcome Metro Station, Shyamlal College, Laxmi Nagar, and the W-Point intersection at ITO.

At each location, Golchha spoke with officers and field staff about their deployment and reviewed the arrangements made to manage crowds and traffic during the festival. Senior officers from the Delhi Police accompanied the commissioner during the visits in their respective jurisdictions.

These included Special Commissioners of Police for Law and Order, Joint Commissioners of Police for different ranges, Additional Commissioners of Police, and Deputy Commissioners of Police from various districts.

Officials said the presence of senior leadership on the ground helped boost the morale of personnel who remained on duty throughout the festival period.

Police sources added that the department had adopted a proactive approach to prevent incidents such as drunken misconduct, harassment, reckless driving, and other forms of public nuisance during Holi.

Authorities also ensured that emergency response teams remained alert and ready to respond quickly to any situation.

Delhi Police said its priority during the festival was to ensure that citizens could celebrate Holi safely and peacefully. Officers remained deployed across the city to maintain order and respond to any emergency calls during the celebrations.

Over 1,200 fined for drunk driving on Holi

New Delhi: Delhi Traffic Police issued more than 1,200 challans for drunk driving during a special enforcement drive conducted across the city on Holi, with the western range recording the highest number of such violations.

According to data released by the traffic police, a total of 1,204 challans were issued for drunk driving during Holi celebrations on Wednesday, a marginal decline of from 1,213 cases recorded during the festival last year. Overall, traffic violations also saw a significant drop this year. A total of 4,929 challans, including drunk driving cases, were issued during the enforcement drive, nearly 32 per cent less than the 7,230 violations recorded last Holi. The western range, which covers Dwarka, Outer and West districts, recorded the highest number of drunken driving cases this year at 297.

The central range reported 257 such violations, followed closely by the northern range, covering Rohini, outer and outer north Delhi, with 256 cases.

The eastern range, which includes Shahdara, east and northeast Delhi, recorded 208 cases, while the southern range, covering south and southeast Delhi, reported 117 drunken driving challans.

The New Delhi range, which includes the southwest and New Delhi districts, registered the lowest number with 69 cases, the data showed. Police said multiple checkpoints were set up across key roads and intersections where drivers were subjected to breath analyser tests to ensure road safety during the festival.

Apart from drunk driving, traffic police also booked a large number of motorists for other violations during the special Holi enforcement drive.

According to data, 3,725 challans were issued for offences such as driving without seat belts, triple riding, riding without helmets, dangerous driving and other traffic rule violations across the city.

The eastern range recorded the highest number of such violations this year at 740, followed by the western range with 672 cases and the southern range with 646 cases. The central range reported 627 violations, while the northern range recorded 504 cases.

The New Delhi range registered 536 violations, indicating widespread enforcement action across multiple districts during the festive checks. Officials said the drive was conducted on March 4 as part of a citywide campaign, which was a special campaign to check drunk driving, overspeeding and other traffic violations on Holi celebrations.

Traffic police teams were deployed at several strategic points, including arterial roads and areas known for heavy festive gatherings, to monitor motorists and prevent accidents. “Strict action was taken against motorists found driving under the influence of alcohol. The special drive aimed to deter violations and ensure the safety of road users during the festive period,” a traffic police official said.

The police said drunken driving significantly increases the risk of accidents and urged motorists to avoid driving after consuming alcohol.