Over 2,200 booked for unruly behaviour during Holi in Manipur

Over 2,200 people were booked and fines amounting to more than Rs.2 lakh were imposed for unruly behaviour during Holi which was celebrated for nearly five days in Manipur, police said on Sunday.

During the festival which began on Wednesday, two people were killed in road accidents and over 100 were wounded, about 20 of them critically.

Police in Imphal East and Imphal West districts had launched special drives to check violation of the Motor Vehicles Act by unruly youths.

As many as 2,211 youths were booked and fines totalling Rs.2,21,700 were collected.

However, on the last day of the celebrations on Sunday, police almost gave a free hand to the revellers.

A police officer told IANS that it was not possible to check the thousands of youths celebrating everywhere.

Hundreds of youths held up traffic on the busy main roads with stunt shows on their motorbikes, while hapless pedestrians stood on the sides of the roads since they were afraid of being run over.

Laishram Chaoba, who had to park his car for more than an hour while the bikers were having a field day, said it was "yet another sign of lawlessness in the state".

"Where were the policemen when the unruly youths were taking the people to ransom in this manner?"

H. Satyabati, a writer, felt it would have been better if the bikers were allowed to show off their skills somewhere in the Khuman Lampak sports complex so that people do not face danger on the roads.

On the last day of the revelry, boys and girls came out in two-wheelers and other vehicles, carrying water-pumps and sprayed coloured water on passers-by.

There were, however, no report of any clashes.

Though the government holiday for Holi was only for two days till Thursday, there was poor attendance in offices and educational institutes till Saturday.