Mira Bhayandar: The Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police have issued a stern warning to those who indulge in illegally organised horse-cart racing competition while travelling to participate in the feast day of Saint Jerome Church in Kashimira which is celebrated on 26, December.
An advisory issued by the Kashigaon police station warned of stern action under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 against those found to be racing their horse carts which not only creates chaos on roads while endangering lives of pedestrians and motorists but is also an act of cruelty against horses who suffer injuries due to whipping and beating by riders who force them to race amidst vehicular traffic.
After celebrating the birth of Jesus (Christmas Day) on 25, December, thousands of devotees from the coastal areas including-Uttan, Gorai, Manori and villages in and around Thane and Mumbai, flock the St. Jerome Church in Kashigaon to participate in the feast on 26, December.
As per the decades-old tradition, the parish conducts multi lingual masses which start off as early as 6 a.m. and continue till 1 p.m. in the afternoon, following which devotees line up to pay homage to the revered Saint till midnight.
Notably, the police had registered an offence against several people for participating in an illegally organised horse-cart racing competition on 1, October, 2024.
Meanwhile, the MBVV police have deployed additional force of around 389 police personnel including- 63 officers and 23 security guards across the twin-city between 25 December, 2024 and 1, January 2025 to maintain law and order and prevent any type of untoward incidents ahead of the New Year's Eve.
This apart from deployment of a platoon of Riot Control Police (RCB) and hundreds of personnel from the traffic department to keep a check on drunk-driving cases. Additionally, nakabandi (road blockades) have been installed at 29 strategic locations across the twin-city.
