Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup
Kaup, Dec 18: Following a series of fatal accidents involving labourers being transported in goods tempos in Kaup and Padubidri, police have launched a special drive to identify such vehicles and initiate legal action against violators.
The action was taken on December 17, on the instructions of Karkala subdivision ASP Dr Harsha Priyamvada. Police teams across the subdivision conducted inspections at various locations and detected 22 goods vehicles illegally transporting labourers.
During the drive, three vehicles were seized in Karkala city police station limits, two in Karkala rural limits, one in Ajekar limits, three in Hebri limits, five in Padubidri limits, six in Kaup police station limits and two in Shirva limits. Reports have been submitted to the court for further legal action.
In addition, cases were registered against 107 vehicles for traffic violations, including 47 cases of rule violations and 60 cases of riding without helmets. A total fine of Rs 51,000 was collected.
The public has appreciated the police action and opined that if such enforcement drives are conducted daily, loss of lives can be prevented and the practice of transporting labourers in goods vehicles can be effectively curbed.
Meanwhile, the public has also raised concern over the movement of hundreds of school vehicles on national highways, state highways and rural roads during morning and evening hours. In several vehicles, children are reportedly being transported in excess of permitted capacity. Autorickshaws, in particular, were found carrying more children than allowed, posing serious risks to their safety. The public has urged the authorities to take strict action against such violations as well.
It may be recalled that on November 30, a goods tempo carrying labourers for decoration work from Kaup to Malpe met with an accident, killing five labourers from West Bengal, Assam and Tripura, and injuring seven others. Even before the memory of the incident faded, another goods vehicle overturned in Padubidri, killing a woman labourer and injuring several others. A few months ago, two labourers were killed when a bus rammed into an autorickshaw at Nandikoor.
Following these incidents, the public had demanded strict action against goods tempos transporting labourers. MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty had also instructed the police during a taluk-level KDP meeting to keep a close watch on such vehicles.