Holi menace: Miscreants water bombing women will directly land behind bars

In what is bound to come as good news for women across the city, the Holi menace of men harassing women with water bombs or colours will now be treated as a crime against women by the Mumbai police.

The police have assured they will take stringent action and lodge an FIR straightaway.

All that the complainant has to do is take a photograph of the spot and of the culprit, if possible, and upload the same to Mumbai Police’s Twitter handle (@MumbaiPolice) with a detailed account of the incident. The complainant should mention basic details such as her name and the location of the incident.

As soon as a complaint is received, the police department will send its police vans to the spot to take the miscreants into custody and book him under various sections pertaining to crimes against women.

According to the police, in such cases they can book the accused on the charges such as outraging the modesty of a woman (IPC Section 509). Police said that the sections may differ from case to case. For example, if the accused touches the woman, the charges could be more serious, such as Section 354 (molestation, which is a non-bailable offence).

The police have also launched a Good Morning Squad at police stations across the city, which will carry out patrols from Wednesday morning till Thursday night. The squad’s work will be to take drunkards on road to task.

Also, the police have banned the use of obscene songs, slogans and words to avoid any communal tension and breach of peace during Holi celebration.

The police have issued a list of things which would be prohibited in the city from March 22 to 28. According to the circular, apart from songs and slogans, the police have also banned gestures, exhibition of pictures, symbols, placards or any other objects or things which may offend dignity, decency or morality.

The prohibitory orders have been issued under the relevant sections of the Maharashtra police act.