India, June 5 -- The Ghaziabad police on Wednesday identified 23 people with criminal records and "debarred them" from the district for six months in a rather unusual manner, with beating of dhols and public announcements about them.

The police said the 23 people were declared "Goonda" under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh (Control of Goondas) Act, 1970, after magisterial orders.

Under the Act, a person deemed "goonda" may be ordered to remove themselves for up to two years from an area by the district magistrate. This can be done even if they haven't been formally charged, according to the law.

But the Ghaziabad police picked up cues from the traditional practice of beating drums and "munadi" (public announcements) while leading o...