Cops at receiving end of Facebook traffic vigil

Delhi Traffic Police debuted on Facebook in May promising to "respond urgently" to complaints posted on its fan page. Only three months later, eager Delhiites have uploaded close to 3,000 photographs of alleged traffic violations exhorting the police to take action. Subhendu Ray reports.

Delhi Traffic Police debuted on Facebook in May promising to "respond urgently" to complaints posted on its fan page.

HT Image

Only three months later, eager Delhiites have uploaded close to 3,000 photographs of alleged traffic violations exhorting the police to take action.

What's interesting and ironical is the violators include occupants of 29 police vehicles and an additional 19 private vehicles driven by policemen.

Based on such "visual evidence", the department has launched disciplinary proceedings against two of its own — an assistant sub-inspector and a constable.

Out of the 29 police vehicles found guilty of 'violations', 24 were motorbikes with helmet-less riders, four were cars whose occupants had not put on the seat belt, while another bike had a defective registration plate.

And out of the 19 private vehicles driven by policemen, 17 were motorbikes with helmet-less riders.

"On June 25, a user uploaded a photograph of an assistant sub-inspector riding a bike and the pillion-rider, a constable, not wearing a helmet," Ajay Chadha, Special Commissioner of Traffic Police, told HT.

"The erring policemen were dispatched to traffic line — off active duty — and will be sent out of the department."

As many as 646 vehicle owners have been challaned based on Facebook photos, he said.