Odisha: People turn watchdogs, focus cameras on errant cops

BHUBANESWAR: Social media is abuzz with photos and videos of errant police personnel, violating different traffic rules ever since the amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act with heavy penal provisions was implemented on September 1.
While nearly 35 photos of the police violators have come to the notice of superintendents of police and commissionerate police via social media in last one week, police have so far taken action against 17 cops. “We immediately penalised them for different violations under the amended MV Act. Most of them were fined Rs 1,000 each for not wearing helmet and seat belt,” a senior officer at state police headquarter said.
The commissionerate police on Sunday slapped Rs 1,000 fine on a constable in Cuttack after his photo of riding bike without helmet went viral on social media. “Nobody is and will be above law. The constable was fined,” spokesperson of commissionerate police Sisir Mishra said. Sources said at least four constables, who are police drivers, were already fined Rs 1,000 each in last one week. The police are also inquiring against two other bike-borne constables, whose helmetless photos were shared on social media on Saturday. Another video of a lady constable riding her two-wheeler without helmet was uploaded by a passerby on Twitter. The commissionerate police are verifying whether or not the violation was related to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Significantly, Section 210-B of the amended MV Act says those, who enforce the law shall pay double penalty for their violations. However, in Odisha not a single enforcing official has so far been penalised double. “We are currently not prosecuting anyone for more than Rs 1,000. Thank you for insisting on compliance to law,” tweeted commissioner of police Sudhanshu Sarangi while reacting to a social media user’s question as to why double penalty was not imposed on the helmetless constable in Cuttack on Sunday.
Though people were earlier rarely posting photos of traffic violations committed by police personnel, the former have suddenly become watchdogs after the enforcing agencies intensified crackdowns since September 1. On Saturday, some aggrieved passersby showed the audacity to ask for documents of a police van at Raj Mahal Square, leading to violent clash with the police. “Many in our department have started complying with the new law. Earlier, they were not wearing helmet and seat belt. Now, fearing media and social media, they too have amended their attitude,” a police officer said.