Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Crackdown on illegal hooters fitted on vehicles halted abruptly despite strict instructions given by Director General of Police to this effect.
While there is no official reason given on sudden end of the drive, the halt has been attributed to political pressure.
Some local leaders who were using hooters and sirens illegally in their vehicles had put pressure to stop the drive, sources said.
Deputy police commissioner, traffic, Sanjay Singh said hooters were taken out from around 100 vehicles during the drive, which still continued. “Now, only a few vehicles are found fitted with hooters.
Their owners are penalised,” he added. Traffic police had launched the drive with fervour when Assembly session was underway. After carrying out the drive for two days at main crossings and routes of the city, traffic cops suddenly stopped checking the hooters, which were installed in four-wheelers.
During the drive, traffic cops took out hooters from 100 vehicles that belonged to local leaders, corporators, village heads, panchayat members and penalised them. Traffic cops even faced threats and had arguments with some vehicle owners that included local politicians and their aides for taking out hooters from their vehicles and imposing fines.
However, even as the drive was in full swing and people were themselves taking out hooters fearing action, the traffic police stopped taking action.
