Despite repeated warnings and even imposition of fines by the commissioner of police Ankush Dhanvijay, city police personnel are still not wearing helmets while riding two-wheelers. On Monday, 12 days after Dhanvijay made the use of helmets compulsory for city police personnel, TOI did a reality check and found that many policemen had taken the top cop's directive seriously but there also others who were callously ignoring the law as well as chief's command.
It can easily be seen near Katol road square, close to city police headquarters. Almost 40% cops in city police stay in quarters located in headquarters. Others also visit the place for various work and they all pass through Katol Road square. TOI spotted many constables, particularly the women, riding two-wheelers without helmets. Most of them, however, covered their faces with scarf. Besides, cops on night patrolling duty hardly use helmets anywhere in city.
In April, Dhanvijay had made use of helmets for police personnel compulsory. Subsequently, the traffic police, under the leadership of deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Sahebrao Patil, had launched a special drive from April 19 to enforce the directive.
So far, the traffic police have penalized around 295 police personnel for not using protective headgear while riding two-wheelers and also recovered Rs 100 fine from each of them. Any instance of policemen violating traffic rules should be brought to his notice as well, the city police chief has said.
He said the rule would be enforced first for cops and then it would gradually be implemented for others like government servants and then for general public. Dhanvijay had sent a circular to all police departments to ensure that men in khaki complied with the law.
Sources said Nagpur has nearly nine lakh two-wheelers. Only a few thousand riders wear proper helmets. Though the helmet laws were notified in Maharashtra in 2006 and awareness levels are high, somehow citizens are loath to follow the law. Sources said as per Motor Vehicle Act, helmet is compulsory for even pillion riders. But nobody, including cops, uses helmets while riding pillion.
DCP Sahebrao Patil denied cops were riding two-wheelers without helmets. He claimed almost every police personnel has started using helmets and assured that those ignoring the law were being penalised.
It can easily be seen near Katol road square, close to city police headquarters. Almost 40% cops in city police stay in quarters located in headquarters. Others also visit the place for various work and they all pass through Katol Road square. TOI spotted many constables, particularly the women, riding two-wheelers without helmets. Most of them, however, covered their faces with scarf. Besides, cops on night patrolling duty hardly use helmets anywhere in city.
In April, Dhanvijay had made use of helmets for police personnel compulsory. Subsequently, the traffic police, under the leadership of deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Sahebrao Patil, had launched a special drive from April 19 to enforce the directive.
So far, the traffic police have penalized around 295 police personnel for not using protective headgear while riding two-wheelers and also recovered Rs 100 fine from each of them. Any instance of policemen violating traffic rules should be brought to his notice as well, the city police chief has said.
He said the rule would be enforced first for cops and then it would gradually be implemented for others like government servants and then for general public. Dhanvijay had sent a circular to all police departments to ensure that men in khaki complied with the law.
Sources said Nagpur has nearly nine lakh two-wheelers. Only a few thousand riders wear proper helmets. Though the helmet laws were notified in Maharashtra in 2006 and awareness levels are high, somehow citizens are loath to follow the law. Sources said as per Motor Vehicle Act, helmet is compulsory for even pillion riders. But nobody, including cops, uses helmets while riding pillion.
DCP Sahebrao Patil denied cops were riding two-wheelers without helmets. He claimed almost every police personnel has started using helmets and assured that those ignoring the law were being penalised.
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