KATHMANDU, MAR 07 - As myriad of coloursfilled the Kathmandu air on Wednesday, the final and the main day of the festival ofHoli saw 1,315 traffic rule violators and 665'hooligans,' including 10 women, arrested.
The special security plan of the police paid off, with "immoral activities" like drunk driving and breaching of traffic rules relatively low this year as compared to thepast.
However, Simran Karki, 20, of Pepsicola and eight-year-old Genish Shrestha of Bhadrakali VDC died when they fell off theirroof tops while playing with colours. Five other persons were also injured in similar incidents.
With Kathmanduites fueling up the city's joie de vivre by stepping out on the streetsin groups, singing, dancing and smearing colours on each other, the Capital city's look was worth noticing during the day.
Moreover, in what may be taken as a good sign, the Holi festivities were much more disciplined than in the previous years. Many have been saying that the essence ofHoli is fast fading, with youngsters"misusing" the festival by indulging in unlawful activities like smearing colours and throwing water-filled balloons on passers-by.
"It was good to see that the public was much more disciplined this time around,” said SSP Ravi Raj Shrestha, the spokesman of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's Office (MPCO), Ranipokhari.
“I had been used to being smeared with colours while on my way to the office on the day of Holi,” said Sumit Paudel, an employee at Hotel Yak and Yeti, Durbar Marg. “But this year, no one pulled a prank on me and I went to work safe and sound for the first time in two years.”
Shristi Yadav from Basundhara said, “It used to be very difficult getting out of the house days before the actual day of the festival earlier. However, this time, the hoodlums were nowhere to be seen. Thanks to the police presence.”
As part of the security drive, 2,200 police personnel were deployed in the capital on Wednesday. An additional 125 traffic police personnel were also fanned out across the city.
According to SP Yogeshwar Romkhani, the spokesman of the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, around 1,315 persons were detained from 47 check points for violatingtraffic rules. He said only six minor road accidents were reported across the valley on Wednesday.
In addition, the Metropolitan Police Range impounded 141 motorcycles and five four-wheelers for violating traffic rules
No comments:
Post a Comment