Kathmandu, March 9

The Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu today warned that any person found misbehaving with passers-by, especially women, under the pretext of celebrating Holi festival would be arrested immediately and charged under Some Public Offences (Crime and Punishment Act)-1970.

People in the Valley and hilly regions will celebrate the festival on March 12, while folks in the Tarai will mark the festival the next day.

SSP Chhabilal Joshi, MPR in-charge, said police, over 1,000 cops, both in uniform and in civvies, will be deployed in Kathmandu to ensure celebration of Holi in a peaceful, decent and civilised manner.

“Keeping in mind the past trends, police have stepped up vigilance. If any person is found misbehaving with pedestrians in the name of celebrating Holi, action will be initiated against him/her under the Act,” it said. The offenders may face a fine of up to Rs 10‚000 and 35 days in detention as per the existing law.

The MPR has identified 107 places to set up pickets with striking, reserve, mobile and Control Room Vehicle of security personnel to maintain law and order during the festival with special focus on marketplaces and busy thoroughfares.

SSP Joshi said MPR will maintain coordination with the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division and the Metropolitan Police Crime Division to prevent any untoward incident and bring to book the guilty. The law enforcement agency has also appealed to all denizens to celebrate the festival in a decent manner.

“Police will act aggressively against anyone who poses a security threat and tries to disturb the peace,” said MPCD in-charge Dinesh Amatya. The existing law does not allow anyone to hurl water-filled balloons at pedestrians and splash water and smear colours on their faces against their will. Targeting people, including women and children‚ who do not wish to be part of the celebrations‚ is against the law and is punishable.

In the name of celebrations, hooligans often disturb the peace by hurling balloons filled with dirty water from rooftops and windows of their houses.