In a rather bizarre New Year incident in Hyderabad, shortage of alcohol sparked arson at a New Year party in Madhapur. The angry crowd set the furniture at the venue on fire, broke music equipment and attacked the organisers as alcohol went out of stock within one hour of the party starting on 31 December. The police have taken into custody six people, including three organisers.
Speaking to TNM, Rajesh, SI of Madhapur police station, said that the organisers of the event had sought permission to host 1,000 people but sold tickets to more than 3,000 people.
The party, titled ‘Elite New Year Eve Party’, was organised jointly by U Media Entertainment and S Media Entertainment.
“The event was held at Siddhivinayak grounds in Madhapur on Monday night. The tickets were priced at Rs 500, Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500. Those who had purchased tickets at Rs 2,500 were promised unlimited alcohol and food for the entire night. But within one hour of the party starting, the organisers ran out of alcohol and this got the crowd angry,” the SI said.
The event organisers couldn’t handle the angry mob, which decided to douse the furniture at the venue with whatever little alcohol was left. They even attacked the DJ and hurled beer bottles at him. The music organisers at the party complained that the crowd damaged instruments worth about Rs 45 lakh. Light and sound organisers have also filed a complaint with the police for incurring losses at the party venue.
“Meanwhile, we have also received complaints from customers that they were attacked by the organisers when they questioned them about the alcohol shortage. As of now, we have registered complaints against three organisers for breach of trust, cheating, mischief and causing damage to property and disobeying law and order. The case is under investigation and we will make arrests soon,” the officer said.
On 1 January, police arrested 2,091 New Year revellers for drunken driving under three commissionerates in Hyderabad. The checking began around 9 pm on 31 December and went till on till 5 am the next day. The main checks were conducted at Himayathnagar, Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Narayanguda, Malakpet, Santoshnagar, Falaknuma and Bahadurpura among other places.
(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)
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