Alleging that the City Patrol Unit has become a money spinning machine for the police department while harassing vehicle users and imposing penalties on them for traffic violations, Rajpur Road MlA Rajkumar led a delegation which met the state Director General of Police BS Sidhu and submitted a memorandum demanding that the unit be retrained and problem areas be rectified immediately. The protesters also criticised this unit’s selective approach on imposing challans for traffic violations.
According to them, in place of imposing challans for traffic violations on the highway, crossings and other important roads, this unit is making rounds of streets and imposing challan on those persons who come out from their home to purchase vegetables, milk or other items on two-wheelers without wearing helmets. The vehicles of students' parents parked in the ‘no parking zone areas’ outside famous public schools are causing traffic jams on several roads in the city on daily basis. But this unit has not enforced traffic regulations at such sites.
This unit is responsible for causing undue anxiety to vehicle users and has become a money spinning machine for the police department rather than ensuring public welfare, alleged the MlA. Rajkumar said that the intention behind forming this unit was good but the residents are outraged over videography of traffic violators by the police city patrol unit. According to him, complainants expressed their apprehension about misuse of the video clips. For fear of being penalised, college students using vehicles have started using
alternative routes which has increased traffic load on such narrow roads.
Rajkumar said that the police should use this unit as swift response team for crimes like chain snatching, eve teasing and other offences in the city rather than only deploying it for imposing challan on traffic violators. DGP Sidhu said that this unit comprising 28 sub-inspectors and 28 constables has already been directed to be sensitive towards the public and enforce traffic regulations effectively. This unit is in its initial phase and shortcomings found in this unit will be rectified soon and in the coming months, its members will be provided helmet mounted cameras.