Days after the tragic death of a 19-year-old youth who was reportedly involved in illegal bike-racing along Chennai’s Marina beach, the city police led a crackdown and apprehended 21 individuals. According to one report in The Hindu, Chennai police have confiscated the ‘high-end bikes’ of these youths.
On Sunday, R Shanthakumar, 19, was killed after he fell to the ground when the bike he was riding pillion on collided with an MTC bus on Kamarajar Salai. His friend Balaji, 19, who was riding the bike, escaped with injuries. It was reported that the duo had been riding without helmets.
The city has had a dangerous brush with illegal bike-racing in the wee hours of the morning along stretches including the Marina beach, Thiru Vi Ka bridge and ECR. Despite the police warning strict action against the young men, the daredevilry has continued over the years. Similarly, illegal auto-racing has also raised an alarm among residents in the city in recent years. In July last year, five men were arrested and their auto rickshaws impounded after they were caught illegally racing on Outer Ring Road.
Speaking to the Hindu, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, East, M Sree Abhinav said, “There was dangerous driving by a section of bikers on Kamarajar Salai. The drive is to prevent recurrence of such accidents, and nobody should lose their life. We will continue the drive.”
Just the previous day, on Saturday, pedestrians had filmed bikers weaving through traffic and performing dangerous stunts. More than 100 people turned up in the early hours on Sunday and requested the traffic policemen to stop the racers on Kamarajar Salai. Following this, police barricaded the stretch and caught a few bikers who were racing on the road. Over 250 cases were reportedly registered over the weekend.
Source: The News Minute