After a pre-dawn raid at Palm Beach Marg where motorcycle enthusiasts organised weekend races at dawn to satiate their need for speed, the Navi Mumbai traffic police along with Dy RTO Vashi, nabbed four youngsters on charges of rash and negligent driving on Sunday. "Acting on a tip-off, the policemen reached there only to find out that some youngsters were riding bikes at a breakneck speed," RTO officials said.
Some got wind of the raid and fled away while the four who were arrested, were handed over to the RTO Vashi after confiscating their documents. They hailed from Andheri, Ghatkopar and Thane. Apart from the four bikers, traffic police booked 33 persons for over-speeding and rash driving.
"Most of the boys belong to the 19-24 age group. They come from well-to-do families. The police released three bikes and seized one motorbike for not possessing valid documents," said API Sunii G Gawali (Turbhe) unit. "We had been searching for them. The group had been getting together for the last few weeks. We got our hands on them finally when they arrived on Sunday morning," said Srikhant Y Dhivare, the ACP (traffic).
He informed, they had received complaints from residents of PBM, Nerul, CBD and Sanpada about the nuisance that the racing enthusiasts would cause at odd hours. Hundreds of youngsters, better known as the Dhoom biker gangs ever since they inspired the eponymous Bollywood hit, participate in the contests, which include performing dangerous stunts and are held on a deserted stretch.
"We have received numerous complaints from frightened people in the recent past of this menace from youths. They race and drive recklessly on busy roads during day and nights. Of late, teens have taken to carrying out stunts on roads, which is extremely risky for themselves and people. This must stop," SPI R Chavan, CBD traffic division told TNM.
Action against the errant bikers will be equally quick, say police. The moment a biker is found speeding, the police picket ahead will be intimated immediately, and the youth stopped. Buying children two-wheelers for convenience and letting them loose on roads are two different things, say cops."
They organise these races for fun. Money is not rolling in these races," said an RTO Official. When contacted, deputy RTO Bharat Kalaskar was not available.The same rule would apply to car drivers. No more speeding and getting away with it for anybody. "Girls and women will be charged for negligent driving or speeding and could face the same action as the youths," informed DCP (HQ) N D Chavan. For children above 18 years, a case under the relevant IPC section will be filed immediately. His licence will be cancelled and his vehicle seized.
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