Srinagar: Days after the two young students died in a tragic road accident in Srinagar’s Tengpora, the Traffic Police have intensified its crackdown on the minors riding two-wheelers and four-wheelers in a bid to save precious lives.
In the past three days, over 1000 vehicles, the majority of them two-wheelers—bikes and scooties—have been seized by the Traffic Police, news agency KINS reported.
Two teenage students of Delhi Public School (DPS) were killed at Tengpora Bypass in Srinagar when the SUV they were driving met with an accident. The incident prompted the Traffic Police to launch a massive drive against the minors driving vehicles.
“It is always painful to see young lives being lost on the road due to reckless driving. One thing we have noticed is that parents are supporting their children who are not even 18 yet and they drive two wheelers and scooties,” Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Srinagar Muzaffar Ahmad Shah told media.
He said that parents’ support in curbing this trend of minors driving vehicles is of utmost importance. “To bring down the number of accidents, we need full support from the parents. We have seized many two-wheelers and also counselled the minors by calling their parents as well,” he said.
“At the maximum, we can seize almost 500 two-wheelers a day that are driven by the youngsters without license,” the SSP said, adding that without parental support, police can’t do much.
Official sources said that in the past four days, over 1000 vehicles driven by minors without a driving license have been seized and challaned as well.
As per the tentative figures available with the Traffic department, at least 500 lives are consumed by road accidents every year in Kashmir alone.
Police crack whip on Pattan student for performing driving stunts
The traffic authorities on Monday initiated action against a student from Pattan after a video circulated on social media showing him performing stunts with his vehicle.
The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic, Rural Kashmir, took swift action against Faisal Fayaz Gojree after he was found performing stunts with a vehicle (JK01AQ-5272).
“Upon investigation, Gojree, a resident of Iqbal Colony, Pattan, was identified as the driver. The vehicle was immediately seized by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Traffic Baramulla, and Gojree’s driving license (D/L) has been recommended for suspension. Additionally, the Registration Certificate (RC) of the vehicle involved in the incident has been recommended for cancellation,” reads an official statement, news agency KNO reported.
Although Gojree, a B.A. 3rd-semester student, was counseled and given a chance to rectify his behavior, authorities have emphasized the need for responsible driving. The suspension of his driving license will remain in effect until further maturity in his conduct, ensuring he does not engage in such risky behavior on the roads in the future, it reads.
The action is part of ongoing efforts by local authorities to maintain road safety and curb dangerous driving practices in the region. (KNO)