14 September,2016 08:40 AM IST | | Vinay Dalvi
Following the recent spate of attacks, top brass instructs traffic cops not to book offenders at lights and other places; asks them to take on law-breakers only at nakabandis
The Mumbai police, which has been facing flak as it is âunable' to protect its men, has come up with a solution to the problem of traffic violators. It has issued a circular asking traffic policemen to book traffic violators only during the time of nakabandi.
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A report submitted by Maharashtra police to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shows that many policemen have been attacked in Mumbai and the state. File pic
This means if you are not wearing a helmet and a traffic policeman sees you at a signal, he/she can't book you as per the new orders. That can only be done during nakabandi. "Since past two days we have not booked a single traffic offender," said a senior police inspector.
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"As per the new orders (copy available with mid-day) issued by the Mumbai police, a senior traffic police official will have to hold a meeting with the local police and fix timings for nakabandis (checkpoints), and during these they will stop traffic violators and collect fines from them," said the senior police official.
Top cop says
Deputy Commissioner of Police and Mumbai Police spokesperson, Ashok Dudhe said, "There is an itinerary published in the circular as to when to book a person violating traffic rules. This has been done considering the attacks on the men in khaki."
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Though such an itinerary was necessary, an order like booking a traffic violator only when you are part of nakabandi will give strength to the people who violate traffic norms, said a senior officer.
Not fair
"If there is such an order it will be dereliction of duty. Policemen can't allow people to violate law. A policeman should book the traffic violator and if he is not co-operating, call the control and tell them to send the nearest patrol vehicle.
These days the senior officers don't support lower rank policemen, and the lower rungs feel they shouldn't get into a quarrel. If a few are prosecuted and shown the power of police, nobody will dare to do so in future. Police officials are more worried about the interest of court than public interest. This is wrong. Let public interest come first and law will prevail," said Y C Pawar, a former cop.
