Constable caught reading newspaper on duty, suspended

LUCKNOW: A traffic constable was suspended on Saturday after he was found reading a newspaper instead of managing traffic on Park Road, where he was on duty.

While action was taken against the constable, a reality check by TOI in different parts of the city found several police personnel lacking in their duty to manage traffic. SSP Kalanidhi Naithani’s action made no impact on these personnel.

On Saturday at 12pm, during an anti-encroachment drive, the SSP found head constable Jai Prakash Singh reading a newspaper near Civil Hospital on Park Road at time of duty. The SSP noticed Singh for about five minutes before pulling him up. He was suspending for laxity.

Soon after this action, TOI conducted a reality check at various crossings of the state capital over the next few hours.

On New Berry Road, instead of manning commuters, a constable was seen busy on his phone for about 20 uninterrupted minutes. Vehicles were seen plying on the wrong side during this time.

At Parivartan Chowk, TOI spotted three constables of which two were busy on their phones while the third was sitting on a bike, instead of controlling traffic. Commuters were spotted without helmet, unchecked.

At National College crossing, two police personnel had their backs turned to commuters and were busy in their phones while bikers went by without helmets.

On other stretches though, traffic constables were seen working relentlessly and issuing challans to violators.

When TOI asked SSP Naithani about the laxity on the part of police, he said strict action would be taken against those found ignoring duty. “I am going to brief SHOs and constables of every police station about this. Anyone who is lacking would be suspended,” he added.