Simmering discontentment over collection of hefty fines as per the amended Motor Vehicles Act sparked off to high-voltage tension at Rajmahal Square in the city with locals detaining several Government vehicles which were allegedly being let off without proper checks.
Alleging that the enforcement agencies were not checking any documents of Government vehicles nor were their drivers being penalised for rule violations, locals detained a couple of PCR Vans, a Mo Bus and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) trucks near the square.
The mob heckled police personnel cops and asked them to show their driving licences, PUC certificates, RC Books and insurance papers. The drivers of the BMC and Mo Bus abandoned their vehicles and fled as chaos prevailed.
As the situation turned volatile with the mob taking law into its hand and pelted stones and bottles, police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Some journalists, policemen and agitators were injured.
Following the tension, Commissioner of Police Sudhanshu Sarangi and DCP Anup Sahoo reached the spot to pacify the agitators. Sarangi clarified that there is no intention of police to harass people.
“We did not carry out any enforcement drive today. We are aware that a lot of people are yet to be issued with driving licences, renew several documents as well as insurance and we had already announced for one or two months’ relaxation during enforcement drive,” said Sarangi.
Sarangi further said the day’s incident was the fallout of rumours on social media that a number of documents are being checked.
“We do not intend to harass commuters. Document checking has been relaxed for the time being, but those violating traffic rules like drunken driving, helmetless driving, triple riding, driving without seat belts and wrong side will be penalised, the Police Commissioner said.
Sarangi asked the people to cooperate with the police as violation of traffic rules is leading to loss of a huge number of lives and many families are ruined in the process.