Cops to sniff out raves on Orkut, Facebook

The Cyber Crime Cell of the Pune police is planning to use social networking sites to keep tabs on invites and other information exchanged between New Year revellers on possible rave parties.

Policemen are using social networking websites like Orkut and Facebook to gather information about raves, parties that involve the use of narcotics and are difficult to track.

“Till recently, it was not possible for the police to crack the cyber world and procure information. Now, social networking sites, where a large number of people share information, are being used by the police to keep close watch on revellers,” Pune Deputy Commissioner of Police Sunil Phulari told HT.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Pune police seized 18 kg of marijuana in a raid on Thursday.

“The consignment of contraband was to be used for parties on the eve of New Year,” Phulari said. He refused to disclose if they had got leads on any such parties to be held on Monday night.

It was with the help of the networking sites that the Pune Rural police busted a major rave near Sinhagad in March, when about 300 youngsters were arrested.

A large number of outsiders, most of them youngsters, come to Pune every year for employment and education purposes — an added reason why the police are on the alert.

The policemen have also decided to get tough with drunk drivers. “We are deputing the maximum staff in the outskirts of the city, where most prefer to go on New Year’s Eve. On the lines of Mumbai, we too will push for 30 days’ imprisonment for drunken drivers,” said District Superintendent of Police Vishwas Nangre Patil.