The death of a pregnant woman riding pillion on a two-wheeler on Wednesday night caused by a police inspector while enforcing the helmet rule on the city's outskirts has shocked political parties, social organisations and the general public.
The CPI(M) has asked the police authorities here to desist from fixing targets to their subordinates [to book helmet cases] in the guise of conducting vehicle checks. The police were chasing two-wheeler riders found driving without helmet and treating them as criminals; they were also on a fine collection spree, CPI (M) urban district secretary S. Raja and rural district secretary A. Jayaseelan said.
Such activities must stop, they said, urging the State government to intervene and ensure that a tragic incident like the one that took place on Wednesday night did not recur.
A few days ago, a youth riding a two-wheeler tried to escape during a vehicle check in the city and dashed against a woman leading to her death, they said in a joint statement.
The party plans to hold a demonstration at Tiruverumbur on March 12 condemning Wednesday’s incident.
Tamil Nadu Traders Federation State general secretary Ve. Govindarajulu claimed the police authorities were fixing targets for their subordinates to book helmet cases every day. Field-level police personnel were forced to act as per the instructions of their superiors with respect to collection of fine amount, he alleged.
