Unattended barricades are potential death traps
Delhi’s vehicle checking mechanisms have not kept pace with the times
On February 8, an unmanned police picket in Delhi, meant to keep people safe, led to the horrific death of a biker who rode into a metal wire used to tie two barricades. Because of the absence of reflectors or conspicuous signage, the wire, barely visible in the darkness, got entangled around the victim’s neck. He fell on the road and his motorcycle hit the road divider. The next day, the National Human Rights Commission sent notices to the Union home secretary and the Delhi Police commissioner over the alleged negligence that led to the death of 21-year-old Abhishek Kashyap. Within hours of the mishap, the Delhi Police suspended seven policemen. Still, more than three days after the incident, they have been unable to identify the policeman whose negligence in tying the wire to the barricades led to the death.
The Delhi Police places nearly 10,000 barricades every night for access control on busy stretches to check criminals. They are meant to restrict entry and exit on both carriageways of the road in an attempt to curb vehicle thefts and petty crime such as mobile and chain snatchings. But the vehicle checking mechanisms in the Capital haven’t kept pace with the times. Around the world, such barriers are made of high-quality plastic and come equipped with inter-locking mechanisms and are, therefore, less hazardous. They include features such as lights, reflectors and low-intensity sirens which can alert approaching drivers. In India, unfortunately, most of the barricades continue to be the older, heavier kind, often secured with wires.
Unattended barricades serve no real purpose, impede traffic flow and are a safety hazard. In 2016, a parliamentary standing committee on home affairs had emphasised the importance of procuring another 6,000 barricades for the Delhi Police in order to bolster its counter-terrorism measures. Police modernisation is a desirable idea. But this is not the way to use barricades.