Driving vehicles with covered face banned

Patiala, September 22

People who ride two-wheelers in Patiala by covering their faces need to beware, as it will now invite a police action against them. The orders for imposing the ban on covering faces while driving were issued by the Patiala District Magistrate (DM) under Section 144 of the CrPC and are in force till November 12.

The orders stated that no person would cover his or her face while driving a vehicle or walking on roads as anti-social elements take advantage by covering their faces after committing a crime and evade arrest.

The violators will be booked under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC which is a bailable offence. The sources claimed that in view of the criminal activities, in which masked miscreants were involved, the police urged the DM to issue ban orders on covering the face while driving.

Such bans have also been issued in other districts of Punjab where the police are issuing challans and registering cases against all such violators. Even in those cities, the main reason behind the ban and official orders was rising crime graph. — OC