Over 800 people were arrested for “disorderly conduct” across parts of Kolkata, Salt Lake and New Town between Friday and Saturday when the city celebrated Holi, according to police records.
Senior police officers said the arrest figure in Kolkata, which was around 700, was not reflective of the spirit with which the city celebrated the festival of colours this time after a gap of two years. There were no major complaints of forcible use of colours barring a few stray incidents, which were promptly attended to.
“By our observation, this was one of the most peaceful Holi celebrations in recent times...,” Subhankar Sinha Sarkar, joint police commissioner (headquarters) of Kolkata police told The Telegraph.
A section of senior officers said a few stray complaints poured in from parts of Phoolbagan, Beleghata and Rabindra Sarobar early on the Holi morning. Most of them were about throwing colour balls on pedestrians and all of them were attended to.
On Saturday, 258 people were rounded up for “disorderly conduct” in Kolkata and on Friday, the figure was 484. Most of the arrests were related to disturbing people in a state of drunken stupor and creating nuisance.
In a series of raids carried out throughout Friday, the police seized 47.68 litres of alcohol from those drinking in public places. On Saturday, 28.4 litres were seized from different parts of the city.
Bidhannagar commissionerate arrested 116 people for “disorderly conduct” from Salt Lake, Baguiati, Kestopur, New Town and Rajarhat.
At least 221 motorists and two-wheeler riders were prosecuted for jumping the red light and driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol from New Town, Sector V, Salt Lake and VIP Road. Most arrests and prosecutions happened in Baguihati, Lake Town and Kestopur.
“We have made quite a few arrests where people lodged complaints about forcible smearing of colours. In some places we found groups of people drinking in the open,” said an officer.
Several residents of high-rises in Bangur and Lake Town were been prosecuted for playing loud music from the rooftops.
A few complaints of eve teasing were lodged with the police control room and police stations. Teams were dispatched to the spots.
The commissionerate had deployed around 2,000 police personnel including heavy radio flying squads, quick reaction teams and special teams of women police personnel on two-wheelers who were specifically tasked to take care of complaints related to eve teasing and molestation.
Kolkata police had also made arrangements for policing throughout Friday and Saturday for Holi and Shab-e-Barat. Around 3,000 police personnel remained deployed across the city and close to 400 police pickets were set up for the twin festivals spread over two days.
At the Ultadanga-Hudco crossing, Maniktala, Phoolbagan, Ruby crossing, Tollygunge, Behala Chowrasta, Gariahat and Shyambazar, police officers were positioned to keep tabs on revellers.