Revellers at a picnic spot at Sikhara Chandi on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 21: The cops are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that you enjoy your New Year picnic safely and incident-free.

Barely 10 days remain for the New Year and picnic spots in around the city are drawing revellers already. With more people expected to crowd these spots in the coming days, the city police are planning to increase patrolling and deploy personnel at these spots to keep vigil.

There have been instances in the past when woman picnickers have been harassed. Cases of clashes at these venues have also been reported.

Last year, the police had got several complaints about crimes and about people having skirmishes while drunk. Two groups of drunk people had clashed in Deras, a favoured picnic spot on the outskirts of the city.

In another incident at Dhauli Hill, Lingaraj police had arrested two youths who were harassing women members of a picnic party. Following these incidents, Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police had increased security arrangements at these picnic spots.

“This year, we have got some complaints already. Many people choose Jayadev Vatika as a picnic spot since it is inside the city limits. We have increased patrolling there and have instructed those managing it to keep informing us about troublemakers,” said a senior police officer of Khandagiri police station.

Caretaker of Jayadev Vatika, J.P. Mohanty said that till January 23, all the pindis and picnic points inside this garden had been booked. “On December 16, more than 800 people had gathered here. This venue will witness huge crowds on weekends and holidays,” said Mohanty. He said they instruct picnickers not to indulge in any rowdy activities in the park.

S.N. Mohapatra, divisional forest officer, Chandaka- Damapada sanctuary said that during the picnic season every year they sought police help and police personnel were deployed at the picnic spots present in the sanctuary area.

Local police stations have been told to deploy policemen at picnic spots. Besides, patrolling vans and beat patrolling motorcycles will visit these spots at regular intervals. “We will act strict upon picnickers drinking at these spots as it is mostly in a drunken state that they indulge in illegal activities,” said a senior police officer.