Police across Telangana faced significant challenges while conducting breathalyser tests on suspected drunk drivers during New Year's Eve celebrations. The enforcement drive, aimed at curbing road accidents, was met with resistance and emotional outbursts from several individuals refusing to cooperate.
Resistance and Emotional Scenes During Checks
In Ramagundam, a 58-year-old man put up a strong resistance when police asked him to take the test. A video of the incident captured the man admitting to consuming "only half a bottle of beer." Officers made several attempts before they could successfully administer the test as per the required procedure.
The situation was similarly chaotic in Hyderabad, where a young man refused to take the breathalyser test. He began shouting and crying, and in a dramatic turn, even attempted to bang his head against a wall. These incidents highlight the difficulties law enforcement faces during such mass checking campaigns.
Widespread Enforcement and Legal Consequences
The police action was not limited to these confrontations. A man in Mahbubnagar faced immediate legal consequences for drink-driving. The court sentenced him to three days in jail and imposed a fine of ₹3,000, sending a strong message about the seriousness of the offence.
On December 31, the crackdown was extensive across the state:
- In Karimnagar, police registered drink-driving cases against 281 people. Additionally, authorities seized a total of 224 vehicles. These seizures were made because the motorists lacked proper documentation or had non-visible number plates.
- Jagtial saw 138 cases of drink-driving registered. Those caught were not just penalized but were also sent for mandatory counselling sessions.
- In Suryapet, cases were filed against 140 individuals for driving under the influence on New Year's Eve.
The drive began a day earlier in some districts. On December 30, police in Vikarabad seized 72 vehicles and registered cases against 102 people for drunk driving, indicating a sustained effort over the holiday period.
A State-Wide Message for Road Safety
The coordinated action across multiple districts—including Ramagundam, Hyderabad, Mahbubnagar, Karimnagar, Jagtial, Vikarabad, and Suryapet—demonstrates a zero-tolerance approach towards drunk driving during festivities. The combination of legal penalties, vehicle seizures, and counselling aims to deter such dangerous behaviour. The resistance encountered by police underscores the ongoing challenge of changing public attitude towards drinking and driving, even during strict enforcement drives.
