Locals in Patna Clash With Police When Asked to Pay Traffic Fines

The police detains a protester during an agitation against the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act in Patna, on 12 September.

(Photo: PTI)

A scuffle broke out between locals and the police in Bihar’s Patna on Thursday, 12 September, allegedly when the police personnel asked for fines over traffic violations.

Regarding the incident, Patna Traffic DSP KI Prakash was quoted by ANI as saying, “Two people had an altercation with police when asked for fine. As per initial questioning, it has been found that they violated traffic rules. They didn’t stop when asked to stop by the police.”

There are allegations of the police having misbehaved with the people, which led to the protest, reported Dainik Bhaskar. Stones were also allegedly pelted during the fracas, with the police having to call more personnel and use force.

According to PTI, the agitation was against the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act.

Ever since the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act came to force on 1 September, many states have called for its relaxation, terming the hefty fines ‘unfeasible’, even as the Centre justified the steep fine amounts.

Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are among the states who have called out the revised fines under the tightened laws.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, on Wednesday, said the revised fines have been implemented not as a revenue income scheme but for the welfare of the people.