Celebration fizzles out amid tight surveillance

Tight security dampened the celebrations on New Year's eve in the city on Sunday as the police imposed strict curbs on the revellers.

With the high court keeping a close eye on their preparedness to deal with the year-end frenzy, the police had stepped up monitoring. Along with 500 CCTV cameras, there were 10 drones deployed to monitor the partygoers.

While the footpaths on Brigade Road were reserved for women, a small portion of the stretch was barricaded to allow police movement. The police regularly issued directions over loudspeakers, asking the public not to stall anywhere for long periods.

Despite all the precautions, two instances of groping were reported from the Cauvery Emporium junction, according to a local TV news channel. But the police have denied  that  any complaints were filed. "The New Year's Eve went on without any untoward incidents. We have neither received any complaints nor detained/arrested anybody this night," said T Suneel Kumar, City police commissioner.

Cops vs crowds  

On prominent locations such as MG Road, Church Street and Trinity Circle, the police outnumbered the crowd.  

Revellers who stood in serpentine queues to catch a glimpse of the action on Brigade Road, bedecked with colourful lights, were disappointed as they were herded out within minutes.

"The security is reassuring. But the police are directing the crowd to move out instead of monitoring them. All these years, we stood amid the crowd and welcomed the new year with loud cheers," said Abhishek Kashyap, who along with his family watched the celebrations from the Opera House.