Traffic cops crack down on auto drivers

Bengaluru: Cracking the whip on errant autorickshaw drivers demanding excess fare, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) initiated a special drive by posing as customers in plain clothes and booked 1,116 cases against such drivers.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) BR Ravikanthe Gowda said that the drive was conducted following an increase in complaints against autorickshaw drivers. “Police personnel in mufti were deployed at important junctions of the city and told to flag down auto, engaging them for rides. Cases were booked against those who behaved rudely and demanded excess fares,” he said.

According to BTP data, the police booked auto drivers who refused to go for hire, those who demanded excess fare and drivers without valid documents. As many as 312 vehicles were seized during the operation.

Most cases were booked in High Grounds, Halasuru Gate and Shivajinagar traffic police limits. Following the drive, traffic officials in the city shared videos and details of their drive on Twitter. A similar drive was conducted by the traffic police in July 2019.