Cops in plainclothes will move around on two-wheelers across Kolkata and in the areas under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate on Holi, officers said.
Additional forces will be deployed and the situation on the roads and in lanes and bylanes will be monitored constantly from control rooms, as part of the drive to be launched by the Kolkata and Bidhannagar police to ensure the festival of colours does not degenerate into lawlessness.
Senior officers of Kolkata Police said the city has been split into over 25 zones. An officer of the rank of deputy commissioner or assistant commissioner has been assigned each zone to lead policing on Monday.
“Around 3,500 additional cops will be deployed across the city on Monday. With the elections round the corner, special arrangements have been made to ensure there’s no sudden deterioration in the law and order situation,” a senior officer of Kolkata Police said.
“The officers in charge of the police stations have been briefed about how the Election Commission of India will monitor all developments and what is expected of them.”
Police pickets will be set up at over 350 points in the city to prevent revellers from splashing colours on others without their consent.
Across the city’s south, south-suburban and southeast divisions, the officers in charge of the police stations have been asked to draw up a list of troubled spots based on their history of violence.
“If anyone is caught throwing colours or water balloons at people without their consent, they will be booked for harassment. People smearing colours on strays will be booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” the officer said.
The Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar has alerted every police station and traffic guard to act against drink driving.
After playing Holi, people with colours on their hair usually avoid wearing helmets, several police officers said. “Our men will be on the lookout for such violations. Riding a two-wheeler without a helmet or with more than two persons on the pillion will attract a fine,” the senior officer said.
Congested neighbourhoods in north Kolkata such as Posta, Burrabazar and Jorasanko will be “covered” heavily by officers on two-wheelers.
PCR (police control room) vans and quick response teams will do the rounds in Beleghata, Kankurgachi, Phoolbagan, Ballygunge, Kasba, Jadavpur and Behala. PCR vans, apart from responding to crisis calls, send life feedback to police control rooms.
More than 600 cops, including senior officers, will be out on the streets during Holi in places under the Bidhannagar commissionerate. The places include Salt Lake, Lake Town, New Town, Rajarhat and Baguiati.
Patrol vans, quick response teams and heavy radio flying squad vans will be out in numbers.