Imphal, Mar 25 (IANS): An initiative started by police in Imphal East and Imphal West districts has resulted in the collection of Rs.178,500 as fines from motorists who violated traffic rules during the last two days of Holi.

"The collection is mostly from the motorists. There were offences like minors or grown up people driving without licences or carrying two pillion riders. The police drive shall continue till the end of the colours festival on Sunday," a police spokesperson said on Friday.

The number of road accidents were drastically reduced this time during the festival.

Many of the youths drive the motorbikes at high speed. In most cases they even remove the silencers, causing noise pollutions.

"It is feared that there were drinking and other objectionable activities," police said.

Though the government had declared Manipur a dry state a few months, all kinds of Indian made and foreign liquor along with high alcohol country liquor are ubiquitously available at higher prices.