Avoid crackers; if you sail, stay out all night

New Year celebrations will be muted this year, with the Mumbai Police asking revellers to refrain from bursting firecrackers for fear that it would create panic with the 26/11 attack still fresh in mind.

In another first, the movement of yachts and boats has been restricted. Such vessels organising New Year Eve parties will not be allowed to return to shore after midnight. They will have to wait till the next morning.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K L Prasad said the police were advising against firecrackers because the sound could easily be mistaken for that of gunfire and create fear.

"There is no restriction on yacht or boat parties. But, they cannot be held near the Gateway of India, where large crowds will gather. The vessels will be allowed to set sail from there in the morning or the afternoon but can return only the next morning. Lit-up boats coming towards the city at night could lead to panic," he explained.

Further, the number of policemen patrolling the streets will reach an unprecedented high on December 31. Forces from all districts of the state will be drawn to the city.

"In the past two years, we have had heavy police presence on the streets on December 31. But this time, there will be even heavier deployment. Additional forces from the Home Guard and state Reserve Police Force have been brought into the city from the districts to prevent any untoward incident," said Prasad.

At spots in the city where large crowds usually gather for celebrations, the police will attempt crowd segregation with the help of volunteers from NGOs.

"The idea is that single women, families and couples will enter these areas through a separate channel and be kept away from the general crowd in order to prevent incidents of eve-teasing and molestation that have taken place during celebrations in the past two years," he said.