Highwaymen have field day

Highwaymen have field day
BENGALURU


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The death of Girish, a resident of Kamalanagar, who was assaulted on the NICE road on Saturday night, has raised questions about safety on the highways.

Isolated places on the highways like NICE road and NH-4 give miscreants ample opportunity to carry out illegal activities, especially in the night.

According to M.N. Sreehari, chairman, Traffic Engineering Safety Trainers, regular patrolling by highway patrol vehicles is needed to check highway robberies. “A constant vigil by police will stop miscreants from committing crimes on the highways,” he says.

Also, Mr Sreehari said, adequate lighting will deter miscreants on highways apart from helping reduce accidents involving pedestrians. Cases of robbery at knife point is increasing and the public should avoid taking lifts from strangers, he says.

Further, unscientific road bumps allow thieves to hold up motorists when they slow down.

According to the Indian Road Congress, speed bumps should be 10 cm to 12 cm in height and parabolic in shape. They should be painted well and indicated by signboards within 10-20 meters.

Nelamangala inspector Kariyappa said: “Unemployed youth of adjacent villages are accused in several road robberies.

We keep a constant vigil on the NICE road,” he said.

Even the threat of road robberies has extended to the commuters on NICE road in Bidadi and Ramanagara limits.

Boulders and large bushes on both side of the road provide opportunities for miscreants to hide. Even bridges and curves can prove fatal to commuters.

Mr Vikas Kumar, superintendent of police, said: “We are on constant alert and have information on some individuals involved in similar crimes and will zero in on them very soon. We are also interrogating some people from nearby villages,” he said. He also said that people should avoid travelling by twowheelers at night.

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