Pune Residents Form 'Anti-Helmet' Group After Police Commissioner Makes Safety Gear Mandatory

Prominent Pune-based citizens, including social activists, politicos, businessmen, NGOs and RTI and consumer activists have come together and decided to protest against police commissioner K Venkatesham's recent announcement mandating use of helmets by two-wheeler users in the city from January 1.

The citizens on Sunday formed a group called Anti-Helmet Compulsion Action Committee (AHCAC) which would protest against this decision in different ways.

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Pune police commissioner K Venkatesham had stated that police will come down heavily on those violating the rule. The action committee has called a meeting on Tuesday where further course of action will be decided. The protest against helmet compulsion will be put through to different platforms.

Talking to Pune Mirror, Ankush Kakade, NCP leader and member of the action committee, said, ¡°We are strictly against imposition of this helmet compulsion. This will create huge inconvenience to the riders. Why is there a need for helmets when the speed of vehicles within city limits is not more than 20-25 kmph?¡±

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¡°We will first urge the commissioner to withdraw this directive. If he does not agree, then we have no option but to use other remedies in a democratic way,¡± he said.

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Vivek Velankar, RTI activist and president of Sajag Nagarik Manch, said, ¡°Every new commissioner tries to implement the rule. This is the fifth occasion so far, but every time Punekars have protested against this move. There are over 24 lakh twowheelers in the city and the authorities are unable to provide such a huge quantity helmets in such a short period of time.¡±

¡°Pune city does not require helmets due to heavy traffic jams and narrow road. The authorities first need to resolve the basic traffic issues pending since ages,¡± he claimed.

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Sandeep Khardekar of Creative Foundation said, ¡°We are not against helmet use on highways, but in the city limits people are facing issues like spondylitis due to weight of helmets. The ability to hear also goes down.¡±

Balasaheb Runwal, businessman and founder of Mere Apane, an NGO, said, ¡°The man in uniform is actually taking the citizens hostage by launching the helmet compulsion drive. First the police and their pillion riders should start using helmets without fail for three months, then citizens should be forced.¡±

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When asked, Pune police commissioner Venkatesham said, ¡°So far, 211people have died in fatal road accidents this year. We have to think about the families of those who lost their lives due to absence of helmets. The situation has to change. We are not against citizens but want to ensure their safety.¡±

¡°We are just implementing the rule as safe and smooth riding is our aim. We will try to change the perspective of the people who are opposing this move. We will focus on awareness for the next few days,¡± the officer said.