10.30 pm deadline no bar for bars in Visakhapatnam
Serious action will be taken, says police chief
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-09-22 02:55 GMT
Visakhapatnam: With the rising incidence of alcohol-induced crime and drunken brawls outside bars and restaurants during the night hours in Vizag, the city police formed 25 special teams to ensure that no bars and pubs remain open past midnight. Despite the 10.30 pm deadline, many are allegedly flouting the order.
Recently, Vizag was shaken up by a couple of gruesome murders where a 14-year-old boy A. Sai Kumar was murdered by his inebriated father A. Nookaraju at Pedawaltair area in the city. In another one, K. Srinu was brutally murdered by his friend D. Ramana after a boozing session in front of a bar at Maddilapalem area in the city. Bar brawls and group clashes are frequently reported in the city.
There is a ban on consumption of liquor at licensed bars after 10.30 pm and it is applicable for the 101 bar-cum-hotels and 56 liquor shops in the city. But, a majority of them have been operating after 10.30 p.m. and some liquor shops also remained open well after the deadline says DCP (Law and Order) M. Srinivasulu.
“We have formed special teams to monitor the bars and liquor shops in the city during the night hours. Our teams will video shoot those flouting the rules which will serve as recorded evidence for punishment.” he added.
Sources in the police department said that recently members of a few organisations have approached commissioner of police Atul Singh to initiate action against some police officers, who were reportedly hand in glove with bar owners and allowing the bars to be kept open till midnight throwing law and order into chaos. Mr Atul Singh has warned the offenders of strict action whether they were bar owners or men in uniform.
Traffic cop found drunk on duty suspended:
Commissioner of Police (In-charge) Atul Singh suspended a traffic police constable of II Town traffic wing for being drunk on duty. According to sources, a head constable of traffic wing consumed liquor on September 8 when he was on duty. The police chief said that he will not spare cops on duty under the influence of liquor and negligence of duty.