Hyderabad: Shutterbug happy with cop response

Hyderabad: An alert citizen who took the picture of a helmetless constable who was riding on a two-wheeler without a number plate and posted it on social media is satisfied with the police response.

Constable Vasath Kumar was suspended by Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar on Saturday. 

Mr Shoaib Hashmi, a social worker, said the picture was taken at Murad Mahal Colony at Talabkatta.

Mr Hashmi, a metallurgical engineer by profession, told this newspaper, “I appreciate the step taken by police commissioner Anjani Kumar suspending the cop. It will help in creating awareness among the common people and send the message that law is equal for all and no one is above the law.”

“We often see common people are penalised for improper vehicle number or riding without licence but policemen themselves break the law in broad daylight,” Mr Hashmi said.

He said he had posted several pictures in the past regarding traffic rule violations. 

“I will continue to do the same in future,” he said and asked the police to taken action when they notice such infarctions of the law.

Asked about the police action, Mr Vinod Kumar Kanumala from the Indian Federation of Road Safety said, “It is a good step to begin with but the enforcement should be continuous. As far as of my knowledge goes, it is the first time that such action was taken on on a police man. Many police vehicles do not have number plates and action should be initiated on them also.”

Some politicians who were responsible for the enforcement of law were reluctant to follow traffic rule which could be seen every day. 

“Action should be initiated on them also. Such enforcement of the law should be regular,” Mr Kanumala said.

Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar said, “If we do not follow rules ourselves then we do not have moral right to enforce law.”