NVI Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 20(NVI): Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic (Rural Kashmir), Ravinder Pal Singh today said that parents responsible for giving two-wheelers and four-wheelers to minor children which leads to growing incidents of accidents across the Valley.
He said that if any minor would be caught driving the vehicle, parents of the same would be penalized and fined Rs 25000 or slapped with three-years of imprisonment.
“We have observed that most of the minors driving two-wheelers and four-wheelers get vehicles from their parents. Especially outside the coaching centres, we have caught dozens of teenagers driving two-wheeler and four-wheelers without licenses,” Singh told reporters here.
He said that it was obvious that minors can’t get licenses and when they have no license, how can they drive the vehicles. “We have started a massive drive against the minor violators. We will be penalizing the owners of the vehicles driven by the minors who are none other than parents and close relatives of children,” the SSP Traffic (Rural Kashmir) said.
He said that the violator will either be penalized Rs 25000 cash penalty or three-years imprisonment. “We will further intensify the drive in the days ahead to ensure no minor drives any vehicle in Kashmir,” the SSP said.
It may be recalled that in the past one week, over 2000 two-wheelers and four wheelers were seized by the traffic cops in its extensive drive against minor drivers across the Valley. Figures available with the NVI suggest that in Srinagar district alone, over 1000 scooties and four-wheelers were seized.
SSP traffic Srinagar said that parents are responsible for giving bikes, scooties and four wheelers to children. “We are calling parents of the minor drivers to police station for counselling. Parents’ support is must to make our drive successful. These are the young kids and we can’t afford to loose them to road accidents,” he said.
Last week, two young students of class 11 of Dehli Public School (DPS) Srinagar were killed in a tragic road accident at Tengpora, Srinagar. The incident sent shocking waves across the Valley forcing the traffic department to launch a massive drive against minor drivers in Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir. Interestingly, many petrol pump owners have pasted posters displaying message: “No Fuel for minors.” The message is to discourage minor driving. The Directoriate of School Education (DSE) Kashmir has also issued a circular stating that “no school should allow the entry of minor student driving two wheelers or four-wheelers.” Parents have hailed the circular of DSE-K and also the steps being taken by the traffic police across Srinagar and elsewhere in Kashmir—(NVI)
