Women's platoon to debut on New Year's eve

An all-women platoon will be on duty to protect girls from drunken revellers on New Years's Eve.

It will be a challenging debut for 120 women constables, trained in anti-riot operations, on M G Road and Brigade Road, where boisterous crowds welcome the new year.

Attached to the Karnataka State Reserve Police, they have undergone nine months of training and are equipped to deal with unruly situations, a senior police officer said.

Big numbers

City police commissioner T Suneel Kumar has requested additional forces from the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and Home Guards.

Police will patrol the city all night, a policeman involved in the preparations said.

Last year, a girl returning from a party was molested in Kammanahalli in the wee hours, and the police are being extra-careful this year.

The top brass are telling their men they can't afford even a single untoward incident, in the light of Suneel Kumar's promise to the High Court that the celebrations will be safe and secure.

Police are installing additional lights and 200 CCTV cameras on MG Road, Brigade Road and places where large crowds are expected.

They are also installing CCTV cameras that will be monitored from the commissioner's office.

Staff are being trained to communicate with men on the ground in case they notice anything spinning out of control.

A cavalry unit will also be on duty to keep the crowds in check. Policemen mounted on horses will patrol prominent streets.

Among the gear police will use this time are binoculars and cameras worn on their bodies. They are also setting up watchtowers.

With just a week to go for New Year's Eve, police have already intensified their drive against drunk driving.

They have also directed pubs, bars and restaurants not to keep open beyond the 1 pm deadline.

Who's on duty?

9,000 city cops
2,000 cops from districts
120 anti-riot women cops
1,000 Home Guards
Horse-mounted cops

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What's the plan?

No entry on flyovers
Action against drunk drivers
No extension of bar deadline
Additional lighting, cameras