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When cops violate rules with abandon…
It is one thing to tom-tom “Rule is rule; rule for everyone” from the housetops and quite another to follow it in letter and spirit. The Hyderabad Traffic Police, which has been going ballistic against citizens violating traffic rules and introduced a points-based system to deprive offenders of their licence, does not bother about a sizeable number of police personnel who go scot-free with the v
Hyderabad: It is one thing to tom-tom “Rule is rule; rule for everyone” from the housetops and quite another to follow it in letter and spirit. The Hyderabad Traffic Police, which has been going ballistic against citizens violating traffic rules and introduced a points-based system to deprive offenders of their licence, does not bother about a sizeable number of police personnel who go scot-free with the very same violations day after day.
Civilians are no longer in awe of the Hyderabad Traffic Police for its professed sincerity in enforcing rules, going by some viral shots. Numerous pictures of police personnel not wearing helmets and driving vehicles without proper licence plates have been circulating on social media platforms. Interestingly, according to the police, not even a single case of violation of traffic rule has been registered against men in uniform after the introduction of the 12-point system.
K Gopika, 30-year-old software employee, said, “I appreciate the fact that the government is running a campaign like ‘Wear a helmet or gift a helmet to your brother on Rakhi’. This should not be limited to civilians. Even police officials should obey this and set an example for citizens.”
Amjedullah Khan, ex-corporator, Azampura Division no 35, claimed that he had posted more than 100 pictures on social media in a week relating to this issue.
“I was recently given Rs 1,400 of challan for over speeding (75 km) near the KBR junction, whereas there wasn’t a single signboard about the speed limits in that area. But the traffic police can roam around without following the traffic rules and they are not even questioned. I am keeping a daily tab on the action taken by the traffic department regarding the 100 pictures I posted online. None of those police officials, including the ones who were not wearing a helmet as seen in the picture, has been fined till now.”
Since October 2016, in all 340 police personnel in the city have been fined for violating traffic rules, but none were charged. This is surprising in the wake of the introduction of the new 12-point traffic system with much fanfare. Fortunately, in the new system, the violator will lose points only if he/she is caught directly by the official. However, the traffic police failed to encounter the many police officials who are violating the rules.
When contacted, Traffic DCP AV Ranganath said, “We have booked hundreds of cases against police officers (constables, sub-constables and sub-inspectors) who are violating traffic rules. They have been handed fines and we even take disciplinary action against them for such violations.”
However, a top police official, on condition of anonymity, said, no traffic violation cases have been registered after the introduction of the 12-point system. The traffic violations range from driving without wearing helmet/seat belts (1 point); drunken driving two wheelers (3 points) or four wheelers (4 points) to committing a crime while using the vehicle (5 points). Specific points have been given to other such offences as well.
By Tera Sneha Reddy
