SINGAPORE, Jan 15 — The weekend curbs on the sale and consumption of alcohol in Little India — put in place after the December 8 riot in the area — will kick in earlier this week, starting tomorrow evening in the lead-up to the Thaipusam procession on Friday, and lasting until Monday morning, the police announced yesterday.

The police said in a press statement: “As large crowds are expected to gather at Little India where the procession will pass through, the Public Order (Preservation) Act proclamation will be in effect in the Little India area.”

The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) and the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA) said in a joint statement that they supported the move.

The HEB noted that as in previous years, the Thaipusam procession guidelines issued to all participants had stated clearly that consumption of alcoholic beverages and smoking are not permitted along the route, which starts from Serangoon Road in Little India and ends at Tank Road. All kavadi bearers and their representatives were thoroughly briefed on this at the point of sale of the kavadi tickets, the board added. Signs will also be put up along the procession route to remind devotees of the rules.

Separately, the Committee of Inquiry (COI) Secretariat announced that the COI public hearing will be held at the Subordinate Courts from Feb 19 and continue on working days until further notice. It added that those who wish to make representations or give evidence at the public hearing can notify the COI Secretariat before Feb 5 with brief details on the evidence and documents they would like to present. These should be restricted to the terms of reference of the COI, which include information to establish the factors and circumstances that led to the riot, among other things.

Following the riot, the authorities imposed a ban on public consumption of alcohol in Little India on weekends, public holidays and the eve of public holidays. Shops holding retail and wholesale licences can only sell alcohol from 6am to 8pm during the stated periods. The same restrictions will now be applied from 6pm tomorrow till 6am on Monday. The police said they had consulted the HEB and the LISHA on the extension.

When contacted, both organisations said they have not observed any serious problems in the past with alcohol consumption during the Thaipusam procession. Neverthless, the extension would be preemptive and would ensure minimal disruption, they said. HEB member Shekaran Krishnan said the timely precautionary measure would prevent possible unruly behaviour that resulted from consuming alcohol.

LISHA Vice-Chariman Raja Gopal added: “It’s a yearly religious festival, so we want to observe this in a very prudent and very decent manner.”

Nominated Member of Parliament R Dhinakaran, who serves on the Hindu Advisory Board, said that previously, he had noticed a minority of bystanders and devotees drinking during the procession, despite the guidelines. “It is not a carnival, it is a religious celebration,” he said.

Hindus and others whom TODAY spoke to were divided on the move.

Allied educator Hari Kumaran, 28, said he welcomed it because people who consume alcohol may cause problems during the procession. Agreeing, Mr Kasi Lingam, 30, a construction worker who was in Little India yesterday, said that devotees should not be drinking during the procession.

Ms S R Gowri, an administrator, noted that while the participants do not drink, the others joining in the procession often do. “It’s a good measure to put in place,” she said.

However, Madam Lata Nambiar, a 60-year-old retiree, criticised the “knee-jerk reaction”. “Will this mean there will be an alcohol ban for every Hindu festival? The ban only draws more attention to the situation and causes more ill feelings towards Indian workers,” she said.

Mr Bryan Cheng, a business owner whose office is in Little India, added: “Thaipusam is a time of celebration. Imagine Chinese New Year without alcohol.”

CNB to help COI with investigations

Meanwhile, the COI Secretariat said the committee reviewed some of the evidence and conducted voluntary interviews with 20 of the 57 foreign workers who were repatriated.

An investigation team from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has been appointed to conduct investigations into the possible causes of the riot and other areas of the incident.

The team began its work on December 26 and has since spoken to various witnesses, including the police, the Singapore Civil Defence Force officers, residents and shopkeepers in Little India, as well as the bus driver and the time-keeper involved in the traffic incident which sparked the riot. The CNB team’s findings will be presented at the public hearing.

The COI Secretariat said the CNB team will be a neutral party to the incident, and at the same time, it will have the expertise and experience to aid in the investigation. TODAY understands that it is common practice for a COI to appoint a neutral investigation team. For example, the police was appointed to help in the COI for the SMRT train disruption in 2011.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, the police said separate investigations into the traffic accident which killed 33-year-old Indian national Sakthivel Kumaravelu and prompted the riot were still in progress.  ― Today