Roadies indulging in wheelies are unlikely to get their vehicles back once the police catch them.
The city traffic police plan to recommend to courts not to release these modified vehicles as they endanger not only the lives of riders, but also those of other road users. The police will also frame abetment charges against mechanics who modify the vehicles.
East Division traffic police have seized 28 motorbikes, almost all of them modified for increasing thrust, speed and engine noise of the bikes. These bikes were displayed at the Pulakeshinagar traffic police station on Saturday, with senior officials hinting that they will never be seen on the roads again.
Modified bikes ranging from Hero Impulse to Pulsar, Dio, and Honda Activa were displayed along with the banner of DH campaign ‘Traffix The Problem’.
“Our commissioner’s recent tweet - vehicles used for wheeling will be seized and allowed to rot permanently - is being put to action,” said a senior police officer.
East Division traffic police received several complaints on social media platforms and WhatsApp messages where footage and photographs of bike stunts were shared. A special team was constituted to curb the menace.
The police started randomly seizing vehicles with which the youths performed stunts. A total of 17 cases were registered at Pulakeshinagar, three at Banaswadi, three at Indiranagar and five at KR Puram police stations. Youths perform these stunts near colleges and schools, especially where women and girls study.
“Among the 11 persons who have been arrested and let off on bail, there were no minors,” said Abhishek Goyal, deputy commissioner of police, traffic (east).
“Our men have identified a mechanic who does most of these alterations and modifications and we have booked him for abetment,” said R Hithendra, additional commissioner of police, traffic.
“In all the cases that we registered against the offenders, they are either bailable or can get away with a fine. This time, we are going to recommend to the courts to not allow release of these modified bikes without RTO’s fitness certificate,” he added.
