New Year celebrations amid tight security across the country

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI - People across the country welcomed the New Year amid tight security measures with major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai almost shut down.

Delhi Police remained on alert, ensuring against any untoward incident as intelligence reports suggested that militants could enter the city to disrupt festivities.

Police personnel were deployed at vantage points and conducting stringent security checks.

Residents didn’t seem happy on welcoming New Year in such restricted environment.

“I had come to enjoy along with my friends here, but there is nothing here to enjoy. Police have closed down everything including shopping centre. We asked why the situation has been made like this, to which the police officials said that tight security was put in place after a threat was received. The ambience is just not that of the New Year,” said Aman Sha, a resident of Delhi.

Several police check post and barricades were placed across the capital. Around 22,000 policemen, 2800 traffic police officials and eight companies of Central Police Reserve Force (CRPF) were deployed across the city.

Meanwhile, people in Mumbai celebrates the New Year inspite of tight security.

Security checks were placed everywhere across the city.

Traffic police remained on alert as party-goers indulged in rash drunken driving, a tendency during festive season.

“Bikes are coming into the no entry zone. Today there will be high cases of rash driving. We are specifically checking party-goers. Suspicious individuals are also on our look on,” said Sawant, Police Inspector, Mumbai traffic police. (ANI)