Tirap SP Kardak Riba flagged off a ‘women police bike rally’ from the market taxi stand, on Thursday. The transport department conducted the rally as part of the nationwide Road Safety Month campaign on use of helmets, in collaboration with the district administration and the police department.

The SP requested the youths, students and drivers to act by the new traffic rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019. Speaking on the occasion he informed that, “As per the new traffic rules, the penalty for driving without insurance of motor vehicle has been increased from Rs 1,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three months to Rs 2,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three months for the first time.”

He informed that the total road accident deaths in India in 2019 was 22,00,000 “of which 15,47,200 were youths who died in bike accidents.”

In the past three years, Tirap has registered 34 injuries and six deaths in road accidents, he further informed..

General Hospital MO Dr Sompha Sumpa informed about how alcohol, narcotic drugs and other psychotropic substances affect driving, while DTO Aman Wangsaham requested the parents to not allow underage children to drive any vehicle, especially two-wheelers. The fine for violation of underage driving will be Rs. 25,000 according to the MV Act.

The programme was attended by DC (in-charge) DK Thungdok, DDSE Hortum Loyi, HoDs and DSP Khewang Khetey, besides Bazar Committee executive members, the headmaster of the government town secondary school, students and members of the public.