By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 6: The Shillong police may have destroyed exhaust silencers worth lakhs of rupees recently to send a strong message to those who love to create noise pollution but they have not done enough to check rash and drunk driving.
The Shillong traffic police are rarely seen on the road with an alcometer to check for drunk driving.
It is not known if they have these devices.
The police often claim that they conduct checks against rash and drunk driving but such actions are hardly visible during the day except for when an accident occurs.
The Shillong traffic police can take a cue from the Assam police. Assam police personnel remain stationed at the Guwahati ISBT to ensure that the driver of every inter-state bus leaving the terminus is checked with an alcometer.
This is not the case in the ISBT Shillong or in some parking lots in Iewduh from where the long-distance buses operate.
Only one traffic constable is often seen outside the ISBT Shillong. During the recent celebrations of New Year in Assam, several videos went viral on social media showing the cops rigorously checking drivers for drunk driving. These actions are not visible in Shillong.
The Shillong traffic police seem to have adopted a soft stand towards the taxi drivers despite the violation of rules by many of them. Some local taxi drivers openly ferry six passengers instead of five under the nose of police personnel. They are not afraid of being caught. STP personnel posted at junctions do not nab the violators.