Ahmedabad: Posters meant for traffic awareness warn residents against partying, police spring into damage-control mode

However, a few posters that came up recently raised eyebrows of residents as instead of traffic awareness messages, they contained warnings against going out in “night parties” or at isolated places while claiming that it may result in incidents of rape or gangrape.

NN Choudhary, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), issued a clarification, stating, “In Ahmedabad city, several posters are usually put up by the ‘Satarkta’ group on the issue of public awareness regarding traffic congestion. This group regularly carries out public awareness programmes in its own way. However, recently, some controversial posters were put up by the group, which came to the attention of the Ahmedabad City Traffic Police. These posters were immediately removed and this group has been instructed not to put up controversial posters. The group did not inform the Ahmedabad City Traffic Police about making or putting up posters with controversial text other than traffic congestion.”

Addressing media persons, Neeta Desai, DCP Traffic (West), said on Friday night, “Satarkta group is an NGO that works with the traffic police to spread awareness regarding traffic issues. They usually put posters regarding traffic regulations but this time they put out these posters on another subject without consulting us. We have taken the posters down and given them a strict warning regarding the same.”