Arrests soar in Peru's capital during 1st weekend of carnival

Lima, Feb 8 (EFE).- The number of arrests in Lima during the first weekend of carnival reached 2,351 people, three times more than last year at this time, the press said Monday.

Though the police announced that excesses and disturbances in public would be punished by fines and community work, cops arrested 2,351 people on Sunday, including 452 minors, La Republica daily said.

The biggest disturbances were in the teeming La Victoria district, where at least 56 people were arrested drunk and for smearing women with paint as they walked in the streets.

Young boys customarily get big buckets and balloons full of water to throw at unwary girls walking along or to empty onto public buses, even going so far as to cause traffic accidents and break windows.

The worst of them also use any kind of paint, talcum or shoe polish to smear on the girls after soaking them with water.

However, some of the locals complained to the newspaper that police were arresting every boy they saw playing on the street.

For its part, the daily El Comercio said that 5,000 police are patrolling the streets to keep order.

In some poor neighborhoods like Barrios Altos, residents provided inflatable pools so that boys could play at carnival while staying out of trouble.

In Peru, carnival is celebrated the four Sundays in February, so the month is filled with traditional festivities from beginning to end.