When Baljeet Singh Kochhar, an active member of Pune based Bullet group Roadshakers collaborated with Vijay Jain aka Wheelieboy and xBhp to conduct a Pune-Mumbai Helmet Awareness Rally, little did he know that his efforts and good deeds would backfire on him in the end.
The Helmet Awareness Rally that took place in Pune on the 6th of June in Pune saw a number of bikers from Mumbai joining their Pune counterparts for a city rally. Members from Roadshakers, xBhp, RSA and various other clubs participated enthusiastically to make the helmet drive a resounding success. The written permissions for the ride from various officials were obtained by Baljeet Singh and the rally was flagged off at 4pm from Pune University. As the event was attended by over a 100 bikers, the riders were divided into small groups with everyone riding in a two file formation to avoid blocking the traffic. Pamphlets were distributed to commuters to promote awareness of the use of helmets. Covering half the city, the ride concluded at Chandni Chowk with bikers given an opportunity to test the latest kwacker on the block the Bajaj Kawasaki Ninja 250R.
For Baljeet Singh and Vijay Jain the rally went well without any problems, but their train of thought was soon to change as the next day Baljeet singh was summoned by the cops for violation of rules along with 30 other riders who participated in the rally. The cops had a problem with the manner in which the awareness rally was conducted and said that a fine of Rs 1500 should be paid for each rider listed in the permission letter. After a conversation with the cops of the city Baljeet Singh was told “You’ve done a very good job of promoting helmet awareness, but now we can’t help it and you will have to pay at least some fine. Reason for paying the fine? Not riding in groups.” How dumb, the cops ought to know that obviously 100 plus riders promoting helmet awareness will have the sensibility to ride in groups! (For sure bikers in Pune have more group riding etiquettes than the cops!) Unfortunately Baljeet Singh landed paying a fine of Rs 1000 in the court and another 2500 bucks to the cops to rid himself of the misery.
What really disturbs is the fact that in spite of conducting the rally to promote a good cause in the best possible way, without disturbing the traffic, the cops could still come up with senseless excuses to trouble people taking an initiative for a noble cause (In this case, the initiative for the noble cause of promoting the use of helmets should be taken by the cops themselves. As we all know most of the cops in Pune don’t even bother wearing a helmet forget promoting it!) So wonder who needs to be more aware of wearing a helmet, cops or citizens?
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