Cops still stop vehicles to check papers: Commuters

HUBBALLI: Days after DG & IGP Praveen Sood reiterated that no vehicle should be stopped only for checking documents, traffic police in the twin cities continue to allegedly harass the motorists.
Commuters allege that they are stopped for document checks three to four times along the same route covering about two to three kilometre distance. They allege that cops are more concerned about collecting fines from motorists than ensuring the smooth movement of vehicles. Apart from traffic police, civil police too check vehicle documents at suburban station limits.
Following the suspension of two police officers in Bengaluru for dereliction of duty after stopping a vehicle from outside Karnataka, DGP Praveen Sood had said that no vehicle will be stopped solely for document checking unless it has committed a traffic violation visible to the naked eye. Now, citizens want this order to be implemented in Hubballi-Dharwad too.
Amrut Ijari, a pro-Kannada activist, told TOI that he has observed the practise even after DGP’s order.
“Vehicular movement is thrown out of gear at many main roads like Old Bus Stand, Channamma Circle, Hosur junction, Cotton Market Road, Deshpande Nagar. Police hardly show interest to ensure smooth movement of vehicles. They deploy home guards to mind the traffic at such places, but they are involved in collecting fines. They are also least bothered to provide parking space at market areas, but surely bothered to collect fine from people,” he siad.
“One can observe police stopping vehicles at Channamma Circle, Desai Circle, Sarvodaya Circle, Railway Under Bridge, Hosur junction and other places at a time. These places all fall within 5 km,” he added.
Lingaraj Dharwadshettar, president, Shreya Park Residents Welfare Association noted that traffic cops stand at junctions like Desai Circle and suddenly catch the commuters. “They are behaving like DGP’s order is not applicable to Hubballi-DHarwad. Like government schemes, pro-people orders are also not reaching Hubballians,” he alleged.
Both Ijari and Dharwadshettar said the police must use technology to check documents of vehicle owners.