mangalore today

Rose for Helmetless Riders - Puttur Police Gandhigiri


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, 22 February 2017: In a situation that reminds of Munnabhai character of Bollywood, Puttur Police today staged an innovative exercise of offering flowers to helmetless two wheeler riders in order to persuade them to fall in line with the law and start wearing helmets for their own safety.


Helmetless Riders 1


Helmetless Riders 1


Helmetless Riders 1


Helmetless Riders 1


Helmetless Riders 1


Helmetless Riders 1


Helmetless Riders 1

 


 Cops from Puttur town traffic police and Puttur rural police station halted helmetless riders at various places and offered them a rose each with a gentle reminder to wear helmets. The unique awareness drive brought a smile to the face of the offenders and most of them nodded in agreement and promised to start wearing helmet.

It may be recalled that the compulsory helmet rule was initially applicable only to the cities and rural areas were exempted from it. Subsequently in January last year, the state government made it mandatory for the pillion riders also to wear helmet. At the same time the compulsory helmet rule for rider was extended to all of Karnataka. Yet it was observed that rural people were not taking the rule seriously and were often seen riding vehicles without helmet. Hence Puttur police decided to launch this unique initiative to win the hearts of the people and enforce the law through their co-operation.

The chief plot device of the 2006 Bollywood comedy blockbuster ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ was a concept called ‘Gandhigiri’ or the practice of using love and persuasion to bring about social change instead of force and bullying. In the movie the characters are shown to bring about revolutionary changes on the streets with kids offering rose to various offenders and making them to obey the laws willingly.

It is hoped that the new citizen friendly move of the Puttur police will bear fruit and will lead to improved police-civilian relations.