The police on Thursday seized many two-wheelers in Srinagar’s Chanapora neighbourhood amid allegations that those who had proper documentation were also not spared.
Umar Mukhtar, a Srinagar resident, said that his scooty and that of at least ten others was seized by the police at a checkpoint in Chanapora.
“They seized the scooters and bikes and asked everyone to wait,” Mukhtar told The Kashmir Walla. “They are not even checking the documents and just asking us to wait.”
At first, Mukhtar said that he, like other commuters, thought that the checking was being conducted for the Covid-19 protocols. “I was travelling with my father. Both of us were wearing masks. I was even wearing gloves, helmet and was also carrying all necessary documents,” he said.
Mukhtar said that the police had asked all the riders to wait at the police station where they would be told what the matter was. “They are telling us they will click photographs. We are not sure if they want our pictures or the pictures of our vehicles,” he said.
“I got extremely late for work and there is no update. They are not even issuing challan. They are just telling us that they have been ordered to seize the vehicles,” said Mukhtar.
Sajad Shah, Superintendent of Police of Srinagar (South), told The Kashmir Walla that as per the Motor Vehicles Act, challans are due when rules are not followed. “There is no agenda. Let them approach the appropriate authority where the bike has been seized, they should take their challan and get their bikes released through court. As simple as that,” he said.
On being enquired about the commuters waiting for their challans at the police station Chanapora, Shah said, “Somebody will tell you that he was told to jump in the river and he is jumping, is it a fact? As a journalist you should not be talking about such things. Go and confirm on your own. Go and do your job.”
