Rules are for others? Dandeli cops hold helmet rally without wearing helmets in SP’s presence
Haliyal: What was meant to be a road safety awareness drive by the Uttara Kannada police has ended up highlighting the very lapse it sought to prevent.
As part of Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N.’s ‘Helmet Awareness Campaign’, police officials across the district have been holding bike rallies, campus visits, and outreach events to promote helmet use among two-wheeler riders. But a recent rally in Haliyal, under the Dandeli sub-division, has now become a talking point not for its message, but for its irony.
On October 8, SP Deepan M.N. led a bike rally himself, riding a motorcycle and flagging off the event to spread awareness on the importance of helmets. However, in a scene that perfectly captured the “do as I say, not as I do” spirit, several police officials following the SP were seen with pillion riders holding placards on helmet awareness, none of whom were wearing helmets themselves.
The irony deepened when the SP shared the very video of the rally on his official X handle, apparently without noticing the glaring contradiction. The footage quickly drew attention online, how a campaign meant to model road safety could overlook the basic rule it was preaching.
Police sources said the campaign aims to encourage habitual helmet use among two-wheeler riders in the district. However, the visuals from the rally have now raised questions about discipline, consistency, and accountability within the department itself.
While the campaign’s intent remains commendable, its execution has, quite literally, missed the helmet.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
ALSO READ: Bantwal police arrest two men for illegal sale of narcotics, seize two vehicles, 810 gm ganja
According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
