Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 8: Has "Entry System" re-surfaced among Men in Blues here in winter capital?
Well, the answer is simply yes, if reliable sources in Traffic wing of State Police Department are to be believed.
While all attempts to contact Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Traffic, Jammu, Shakeel Ahmad Baig and SSP, Traffic, Jammu, Manmohan Singh proved futile, the people of Jammu have a ray of hope on Director General of Police (DGP), Ashok Prasad, who has initiated a process to streamline the Traffic wing which is allegedly drenched in corrupt practices.
"About few months ago, following strict vigil by senior officers, the entry system (illegal charging of money from the drivers of mini-bus and other commercial vehicles) has re-started here in the winter capital of the State. Traffic Cops posted at several points in and around the city have allegedly started collecting money," revealed sources in Traffic wing further adding that "whenever there is movement of senior Cops, the collection is stopped."
"It is amazing. On one side, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweets of delivering good governance and presenting corruption free administration at the door steps of general public. While on the other side, there is open collection of alleged booty by none other than the Men in Blues," lamented Shakti Singh, a senior citizen of the State. Singh further pointed out that "they (Traffic Cops) don't even feel ashamed when the conductors or drivers of commercial vehicles place the "entry fee" in their pockets that too in full public view."
A random survey conducted by Early Times on Jammu roads indicated that the entry fee has re-surfaced on the city roads. Some of the Conductors and Drivers of Mini-Buses while speaking to ET on the condition of anonymity disclosed that "A sum of Rs 100 has to be paid at each and every traffic point where the Cops are deployed. It is a sort of monthly fee at every traffic point." "Besides, we are also being fined so that their target of Challans is also met. As they have to show their performance to their seniors so they impose fine either without uniform or little overloading. But the same is done just once a week or four to five times in a month," they added.
Replying to a query why they don't object to Challans, they shared, "See, we drive with overloading almost throughout the day but they (Traffic Cops) do not impose fine every time. Furthermore, if we have made 10 to 20 commuters as overloading, they fine us just for four to five. And due to that reason, we don't have to pay heavy fine." |
