Bengaluru Traffic Police find 36 school van drivers drunk; parents raise safety concerns
Bengaluru: A special drive conducted by the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) to check school van drivers for alcohol consumption has revealed that 36 drivers tested positive, sparking serious concerns among parents and school authorities.
According to a report by The New Indian Express published on Sunday, the inspection held on October 24 covered 5,881 school vans across the city.
Menaka Reddy, Coordinator of the Parents Association Bengaluru East Corridor, said nine of the drivers who tested positive worked for schools in Bellandur and Domlur.
“We are working with the traffic department to ensure school managements conduct routine checks and counsel drivers regularly,” TNIE quoted her as saying.
Parent groups and schools have reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy towards rash driving and alcohol use among drivers. One private school in the city said it strictly monitors drivers before every trip and dismisses anyone found under the influence of alcohol, adding that it maintains extra vigilance after long weekends or holidays.
N. Yogananda, General Secretary of the RTE Students and Parents Association, alleged that mandatory police verification of school staff, as required under a 2015 order, is often overlooked. He highlighted that if these instructions had been followed strictly, such incidents could have been avoided.
DCP (Traffic-East) Anup Shetty confirmed that notices have been issued to school authorities whose drivers tested positive. “The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has also been asked to suspend the licences of those drivers. “If a driver is found drunk, we inform the school to arrange an alternative, or we do so ourselves to ensure children reach safely,” TNIE quoted Shetty as saying.
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J'khand: 4 minors detained for 'raping' girl at birthday party
Ranchi (PTI): Four minors were detained for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl at a birthday party in Jharkhand’s Ranchi, police said on Saturday.
The incident took place on March 31 within the Namkum police station limits. An FIR in this regard was lodged on April 16 based on the girl’s statement, they said.
“All five, including the victim, were friends, and the girl had gone to attend the birthday party of one of those detained. At the party, the accused consumed alcohol and allegedly raped her,” said Ramnarayan Singh, the officer in-charge of Namkum police station.
“The four, aged between 15 and 17 years, have been detained and the medical examination of the girl is underway,” Singh said.
Further investigation is underway.
