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Journalism of Courage
SURAT, July 26: Taking advantage of the Motor Vehicles Act, which makes mandatory the painting of a yellow strip across car lights, a group of people are apparently providing related services claiming the aegis of the Surat city police. Taking cognisance of the complaints in this regard, city Police Commissioner Maniram has ordered a probe into the activities of the group.
Lending an interesting angle to the episode is the charge of some city-based autorickshaw union, whose leaders claim the gang is accompanied by three or four traffic policemen. 8220;The policemen flag down the cars, while the others get to work, painting the headlights yellow and etching the registration and engine numbers of the vehicles8221;, they allege.
Maniram, however, categorically states that the police have not commissioned anyone to etch numbers or paint headlights.
Additional Commissioner of Police P C Thakur, in charge of traffic, explains, 8220;Etching is a nationwide precautionary practice against car-thefts, while the yellow strip is painted on to cut down on the glare of lights. If the traffic policemen accompanied the group doing such work, they were at fault.8221; Thakur is in charge of the investigation of the allegations.
Barot, who alleges police involvement in the matter, says that for the past two months or so, groups of about 10 people, accompanied by three or four policemen, have been setting up their equipment at a particular spot. While the policemen and a couple of others flag down cars, the others etch the numbers and a third group paints the headlights, charging between Rs 10 and Rs 20 for the whole job. 8220;Anyone will stop because the traffic policemen are accompanying them8221;, says Barot.
On the Sangh8217;s demand for the arrest of the group leader 8212; identified by them as one Suresh 8212; a senior official says, 8220;We cannot stop anyone from pursuing their work. There is no question of arresting anyone.8221;
Barot, however, alleges that a section of the police are a part of this racket and that the gang has mopped up Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakhs in the process.
Claiming that Traffic ACP C J Barot refused to listen to his complaint a couple of days ago, Barot says they then decided to submit a memorandum to the police chief, warning him that the police were either being exploited by tricksters or that a section of them were actually involved in the fraud.
