Meerut crackdown: Booze behind the wheel, parties in cars; 77 vehicles seized, 26 FIRs filed under Operation Alcohol

MEERUT: A three-day crackdown on drunk driving and public alcohol consumption in Meerut, under "Operation Alcohol," concluded on Sunday. The drive was led by SSP Dr Vipin Tada and aimed at curbing violations to improve law and order in the city."Our checking teams registered 26 FIRs and seized 77 vehicles from those caught driving under the influence or drinking inside their vehicles," SSP Tada said. "We also issued 535 challans under the Motor Vehicles Act, mostly for drunk driving."CO Kotwali Ashutosh Kumar said each offender was fined Rs 10,000 and warned not to repeat the offence. "We didn't spare anyone violating the rules. By the final day, cases of drunk driving had dropped."CO Civil Lines Abhishek Tiwari added that after 11pm, known hotspots were ordered shut, except essential services like pharmacies.