Following the motto ‘prevention is better than cure’, some state police departments, already overstretched and overloaded with Covid-related work, decided to announce beforehand on social media what the ‘cure’ will be for party revellers who break rules on 31st night. Some of these ‘cures’ had the netizens in splits because they were loaded with dry humour. Many shared the posts, praising the creatively worded veiled warnings.
Using humour, these state police departments were successful in sending a strong message to the public that they will apply zero tolerance for rules violators. Indian Masterminds takes a look at the New Year’s Eve campaigns of police of two states – Assam and Uttar Pradesh – as they grabbed the maximum eyeballs and created much amusement even before all the partying started.
HUMOUR-LOVING POLICE
It’s a fact that 31st night revelry leads to drunken driving and resultant road accidents. Every year before New Year’s Eve, the police departments go on a hyper vigilant mode to caution and warn people and prepare for drunken driving and road accidents that cause fatalities and land people in hospitals with grave injuries. Statistics reveal that road accidents increase on the intervening night of 31 December and 1 January, as party goers drive back home drunk.
However, this time, some state police departments decided to act beforehand and take pre-emptive action rather than wait to take action on the 31st night. And they chose to do it in a creatively funny way. All in good humour!
ASSAM POLICE’S LOCKUP PARTY
Assam Police came up with a witty and quirky post loaded with puns, that was widely shared by netizens with praises for the maker’s ingenuity. Even Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma liked the post on Twitter.
The introduction starts off by saying “if your New Year Eve’s plans include drunk and/or rash driving, this invitation is for you.” The main post reads: “This New Year’s Eve, try not to be our guests. Free entry for rash drivers, drunk drivers, other eligible violators. Special performance by DJ Lockup. On the menu is CopCake, and other dessert items in our Custard-y. Location: Your nearest police station. P.S. – Stag Entry Allowed.”
Assam Police had been on an overdrive against drunk driving since Christmas time using breath analyzer, to haul up drunken drivers, suspend their licence, and levy a heavy fine of Rs 10,000 on them.
And, in a first, the Chief Minister himself was on the roads of Guwahati on 31st night along with Joint Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, Partha Sarathi Mahanta, IPS. Mr. Mahanta said, “We were on ground zero to ensure that everyone has a safe New Year.”
UP POLICE’S NEW YEAR JACKPOT OFFER
UP Police also came up with a winner post. They wrote: “Wanna grab this exciting New Year jackpot? Offer valid on a ‘First Come First Serve’ basis. RSVP – UP Police.” Their ‘New Year Bonanza’ that was on offer is: “Free 1 night stay at the Lock-UP Hotel with free meals and full body massage or an exclusive gift hamper of fine worth thousands. Hurry! Offer valid only for rash and drunken drivers, eve teasers, hooligans and night curfew violators.”
The tweet invited a lot of comments, some equally hilarious. One twitterati wrote, “Would you mind telling us in detail how to avail this offer?” While another wrote, “No thanks! But I like your creativity.” Yet another one wanted to know whether this “state-of-the-art bonanza offer will apply to influential persons as well.”
HUMOUR AN EFFECTIVE TOOL
The use of humour to drive home a message, to cushion warning with laughter, seems to be quite an effective way to make people obey rules, to ensure law and order during celebration of special days and festivals. As Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned in a tweet: “We have been successful in ensuring minimal casualties on New Year’s Eve.”
