Kolhapur welcomed the New Year under a blanket of heightened security as city and district police mounted a massive vigil to ensure public safety and prevent any untoward incidents. The extensive operation, which ran from Wednesday noon until midnight, saw personnel deployed across strategic locations.
City-Wide Checkpoints and Drunk Driving Crackdown
Authorities established a robust network of 35 checkpoints and blockades at key junctions and entry points. Prominent locations included Shivaji Bridge, Dasara Chowk, Bindu Chowk, and major highways like the Panchaganga bridge and Ujlaiwadi flyover areas. The primary focus was on curbing drunk driving, a major risk during celebrations.
Inspector Nandkumar More from the city traffic branch reported significant results. Action was taken against 135 individuals caught driving under the influence of alcohol. This enforcement drive led to a total fine collection of Rs 50,000 from the offenders.
Multi-Agency Operations for Holistic Security
The security measures extended beyond traffic management. In a late-night combing operation, police targeted individuals found partying in open spaces, disrupting peace. Simultaneously, the state excise department launched a separate campaign to thwart the smuggling of liquor from Goa into the region.
Deputy Superintendent Yuvraj Shinde detailed the excise department's success, stating that a two-to-three-day operation led to cases being registered against nine people. The authorities also seized illegal goods valued at Rs 24,000.
Heightened Vigilance Amid Election Code
The security operation was further intensified due to the model code of conduct being in force for the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Kolhapur and Ichalkaranji. This dual focus on festive security and electoral decorum aimed to maintain overall law and order, preventing incidents that could disrupt public peace.
Police stations across Karvir, including Juna Rajwada, Laxmipuri, Shahupuri, and Rajarampuri, actively participated, checking motorists and two-wheeler riders at various points throughout the city until the early hours of the New Year.
