Cuttack: New Year celebrations turned sour on Friday night as the enforcement squad of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) swooped down on a hotel and issued show-cause notice to the owner for flouting COVID-19 protocols.
The squad, in a surprise raid, found scores of youngsters at a Zero Night party in the hotel disregarding the mandatory safety norms laid down by the government.
The Commissionerate Police had made elaborate arrangements to enforce the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC)’s order prohibiting Zero Night/Welcome New Year celebrations in the city.
Around 12 platoons of policemen were deployed in the city to ensure compliance with the SRC’s order.
Police kept an eye on all hotels in the city. Night curfew was imposed strictly.
Speaking to reporters, DCP (Cuttack) Prateek Singh said, “We have set up checkpoints at many places to enforce night curfew.”
At least 10 COVID-19 cases were reported on Friday in the city.
Meanwhile in Puri, security has been beefed up with deployment of nine police platoons to maintain law and order during New Year festivities.
