Thaindian News

Srinagar, June 5 (IANS) Alarmed by unruly mobike riders zooming through the streets of Srinagar at break-neck speeds, the traffic department Tuesday launched a crackdown against them.

Throwing traffic safety rules to the wind, scores of young mobike riders have been almost holding the city roads to ransom for the last many months.

Complaints against these unruly mobike gangs have been on the rise in the last few months.

“One felt like climbing the nearest electric pole when these motorcycle gangs neared you on the road,” said Ghulam Nabi, a retired headmaster.

Disturbed by the alarming trend that has been endangering the lives of pedestrians, motorists and even the mobike riders themselves, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is believed to have ordered the authorities to arrest the growing tendency.

Earlier, Omar posted on his micro blogging twitter site: “Just saw a young 17/18 year old boy crash his motorcycle while riding like a lunatic. I hope he and the others with him survive.

“When will bikers/scooterists realise that wearing a helmet is not a favour to the government & may save their lives one day.”

Shafqat Ahmad Watali, deputy inspector general of police (Traffic) told IANS: “We have so far seized around 200 two-wheelers from different areas of the city and other parts of the Valley.

“The seizures have basically been for violation of traffic safety rules, absence of registration certificates, insurance cover, tax receipts etc. Since yesterday, we have recovered over Rs.150,000 in fines from the violators,” Watali said.

The officer said so far very few vehicle owners had turned up at the zonal traffic headquarters to claim their bikes.

“I cannot tell you the exact reasons unless these become clear to us,” he said.

The local people have appreciated the ‘crackdown’ on two-wheeler mobs in the city.

“This is one crackdown every Kashmiri is so happy about. The motorcycle mobs had started becoming unbearable in the city,” said Khwaja Nisar Hussain, a retired chief engineer.