Chutia resident Avinash Pandey jostled for five hours to lay his hands on the coveted trophy. Banker Rakesh Sinha couldn't control his greed for the freebie. College student Sunny Munda had to return empty-handed. And, an unidentified constable nicked the gift meant for people.
That was precisely how the Ranchi traffic department's much-touted mega awareness drive against helmet-less biking unfolded at Morabadi grounds on Sunday after chief minister Raghubar Das, in the presence of the police top brass, flagged off the Helmet Week with the motto 'Ride with Pride'.
While around 1,500 free helmets were distributed at the grounds, a stampede-like situation prompted the district administration to shift the venue to the traffic SP's office at Kutchery Chowk, where the remaining 3,500 were given away. A 15km awareness rally on bikes was held thereafter.
The traffic police programme, aimed at curbing fatal road accidents and sponsored by a Bengal businessman, was scheduled from 7am to 8.30am. But, people started pouring in at Morabadi grounds as early as 4am and the footfall crossed 10,000 by 8am.
The ceremonial gifting of helmets started only around 9.15am, after the chief minister arrived, but by then patience had started wearing thin. As soon as the freebie trucks rolled in, there was a mad scramble. Police, led by traffic SP Sanjay Ranjan Singh and his deputy Dilip Khalkho, had to use mild force to control the mob.
People alleged "mismanagement". Many claimed that rules of the programme were not properly communicated.
Sunny, a student at Ranchi College, was among the dejected lot. "I was told that I would get a free helmet if I participated in the rally. But, here they asked me for my registration papers without which I was not entertained," he said.
Traffic SP Singh said the rules were simple. "People had to come with their bike licence and ownership papers, register with us for the rally and win a helmet. We plan to distribute 21,000 helmets this fiscal. The registration process will help us build a data bank, which again will aid prosecution in case of violation," he said.
Chief minister Das said his government was committed towards road safety. "Thousands of bikers die in accidents and in most cases, the victims are found without helmets. We wish to instil a sense of road discipline in this state."
Asked why the programme was chaotic despite police bandobast and even drone surveillance, traffic DSP Khalkho said they didn't expect people to get so excited. SP Kaushal said around 100 cops were deputed to manage the crowd.
Chutia resident Pandey, who bagged his freebie after a prolonged struggle since early morning, claimed that though the helmets had the ISI mark, they were not of good quality.
Jhalda businessman Vishnu Agrawal, who is raising a mall in Ranchi, rubbished the claim. "Each of these helmets cost Rs 1,000 and are of standard quality," said the sponsor.
Morabadi resident Rakesh Sinha said he had no complaints. "I already have two helmets at home, but decided to try my luck for a free one. Why should I crib?"
Mukesh of Pandra boasted that he had never used a helmet and was never caught by police. "But, when I came to know about the freebie, I decided to get one," he said.
The greed didn't spare cops either many of whom grabbed helmets as their seniors, including state police chief D.K. Pandey, Ranchi SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi and city SP Kishore Kaushal, looked the other way.
Where did police fail in crowd control at Morabadi? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
