Police continues to harass outsiders by Archit Watts
Chandigarh, March 6Though the UT traffic police has always claimed that the traffic cops have been advised not to unnecessarily harass the outsiders in the city, except of any visible offence. But, still the condition is same and the harassment to outsiders continues.
A visit to the nakas put up at various entry points to the city revealed that around 80 per cent of vehicles, bearing registration number of other cities, were becoming the victim of the illegal practice of the traffic cops.
Naresh Kumar, a resident of Gurgaon, alleged that the cops demanded Rs 200 from him for not having the under-control pollution certificate at the housing board traffic-lights point.
Sanjay and Soni, shop-owners at the same area, also alleged that they had seen traffic cops accepting bribe from outsiders several times.
Another Ludhiana-based businessman said, “Whenever I come to the city, cops generally stop me at every naka because my car bears Punjab’s registration number.” A number of times, complaints had been submitted, but no hard action had been taken, and it seemed the senior officials were least bothered about this issue, he added.
According to sources, some visitors to the city have filed their complaints of unnecessary harassment by the traffic cops to the senior police officials. Although inquiries have been marked in these types of cases, but no satisfactory result has come out.
A constable, Charan Singh (name changed), said their department paid less salary and he had no other source of income to fulfill the needs of his family except of illegal methods.
Denying the allegations, JS Cheema, DSP traffic, said: “We are conducting surprise raids to keep a check on our personnel. The special instructions have also been given not to unnecessarily harass outsiders.” Except of this, all cops had been advised to talk politely, especially with outsiders, Cheema added.

Chandigarh Tribune March 7, 2009