Kanwadias streaming into the city in their hundreds from several States like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi, the commuters are at the receiving end with the swarming pilgrims flouting the traffic rules with impunity. Though police are claiming that they are trying to make them to fall in line vis-a-vis the traffic norms nothing is being visible on the ground. They are not just indulging in reckless driving but also are playing DJs on the roads, blaring in high-decibel volume, and dancing, with police looking the other way. Some of them were seen on Wednesday riding towards the tourist destinations like Mussoorie, Sahastradhara and Guchupani with three or more on a single two-wheeler.
Earlier, the police had said that no Kanwadia playing DJ would be allowed to enter the city. But now with the norm being trashed, police are choosing to remain passive.
Besides, triple riding being seen along several roads that lead to Mussoorie, police are conspicuous by their passivity, prompting the people to say that they are passive thanks to the non-interference policy taken by the BJP-helmed state Government vis-a-vis the pilgrimage.
Umesh Bhatt, resident of Dalanwala, said that he was shocked over the police passivity with the Kanwadias trashing the traffic norms on the congested roads of the city, notorious for their vulnerability to accidents. “As pilgrims, they are most welcome to the state known as Dev Bhumi. However, they must be made to fall in lines with the traffic rules and this is what police are not doing,” he said.
Chetan Bisht, resident of Raipur, echoed the same sentiment, saying that they are riding to Mussoorie while violating regulations. “Police playing the role of spectators are creating trouble for the normal commuters and the tourists,” he added.
Asked why police are not playing the expected role in reining in the unlawful activities the Kanwariyas are indulging in, SSP Nivedita Kukreti said that the force is a bit handicapped because of their large scale deployment in Haridwar to maintain peace during the Kanwad Mela. “However, I want to make it clear that we would not allow anybody to flout the traffic and other norms.
Police have been strictly directed to take action against such violators and slap them with challans,” she added.