Tackle daredevilry better
Stunt biker gangs have created havoc on Delhi roads and similar outfits of teenagers have been disregarding the law in search of thrills in other metros too, notably Kolkata. However, the death in police firing of a youngster who was riding pillion on a daredevil stunt machine, and the bullet injury caused to the driver, in the small hours of Saturday in Delhi should give law enforcers pause.
These reckless young men and their machines become a traffic hazard and endanger the lives of others. They have not heeded police warnings to desist from their dangerous sport on public roads. And yet, they are not terrorists and hardened criminals who shoot at the police or hurl bombs. It does not make sense for the Delhi police to fire live ammunition at them. Non-lethal means should have been used to restrain the gang.
The police says it fired when stones were hurled at them. Is that what the manual says? What about plastic or rubber bullets, or even tear gas, even at 2 am? The police say they fired to puncture a tyre, not to kill. But why was a particular motorbike out of 50 or 100 performing stunts targeted? A judicial probe will clear matters. The Delhi police is especially hard-worked on account of VVIP presence, but they seem to be poorly trained and equipped. The same goes for the police in all states. In a democracy we expect better.
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