Now, SIT formed to dispose of 4,659 impounded vehicles

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 15

Hundreds of impounded and unclaimed vehicles lying with the Ludhiana Commissionerate are gathering dust at various police stations.

The police stations, which are already facing space crunch, are forced to keep these vehicles on their premises.

Police Commissioner Ludhiana Sukhchain Singh Gill has now decided to get rid of these impounded and unclaimed vehicles. He has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the purpose, which will make a plan to dispose of these vehicles after obtaining due permissions from court, if required.

Interestingly, the impounded vehicles have turned police stations into a junkyard, as there is no provision for their upkeep. The police stations also do not have any separate yards. At times, some of the vehicle parts are stolen. Moreover, at some of the police stations including Basti Jodhewal and Police Station No. 7, vehicles were dumped on roads due to the shortage of space.

Such vehicles are often damaged beyond repair and recognition. Their windscreens are shattered, doors unhinged, tyres punctured and steering wheels broken. Over time, they get reduced to mere scrap.

The orders of the formation of SIT (copy with The Tribune) states that the CP has made Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, the head of SIT. He will be assisted by ACP, Crime, ACP Headquarters and ACPs of the police stations concerned.

Max vehicles at PS 7

As per the data compiled by SIT, the police division number 7 has maximum (382) impounded vehicles. Most of these vehicles are dumped on road outside the police station, hence encroaching upon a major portion of the road. As many as 305 such vehicles are gathering dust at Sarabha Nagar police station. PS 8 falls next with 267 vehicles; Jodhewal with 258; PS 6 with 233; PS 5 with 228; Sadar has 220, Shimlapuri 218 and Salem Tabri 212. Minimum eight vehicles are lying at Tibba police station followed by 11 at Women police station. Total 4,659 vehicles, including 3,813 two-wheelers; 219 three-wheelers; 605 four-wheelers and 22 other vehicles (trucks, etc) are lying with various police stations.

People fail to turn up to claim vehicles

Sources said many people do not turn up to claim vehicles seized for traffic violations, dowry case, theft cases etc, considering that legal cost of taking the possession of the vehicle was more than its market value. Some vehicles which are case properties and cases are still pending in court cannot be disposed of, but others which can be disposed of as per law will be disposed of soon, said a police official.