LAHORE: The Lahore operations police have identified around 55 ‘hotspots’, also called ‘death points’, in the city where groups of youngsters perform stunts on motorcycles, especially wheelie, on main roads, resulting in death or life-long disability for many youths during the New Year and Christmas celebrations.

On some of these roads, the youngsters riding modified 125cc bikes set a target of crossing 200km per hour speed, risking their life and limb.

In this regard, the roads which are favourite with these speed junkies include the stretch from Punjab University New Campus to Thokar Niaz Baig on the Canal Road, Gulberg’s Main Boulevard, Jail Road, The Mall, Cavelary Bridge and some main roads of the DHA.

During some recent meetings, the Lahore police high-ups devised a robust security and enforcement plan to tackle the menace of wheelie and other bike stunts, especially during the festive season of Christmas and on the New Year’s eve.

A special security and crowd-control plan will also be in place

An official said that every year these festive events are marred by grim stories about youngsters’ losing their lives in fatal bike accidents, while dozens of others suffering permanent disabilities.

These youngsters mostly perform stunts while driving bikes zigzag, lying flat on their two-wheelers, and standing on them, leaving the handle, he said.

The official said, these youngsters also hire expert mechanics for modification of their bikes to perform these stunts.

To thwart the New Year plans of such groups of bikers, the police high-ups have came up with strict security measures.

“We have pinpointed a total of 55 hotspots across the city, using advanced technology and data science to implement targeted interventions against such deadly practices,” Lahore Operations DIG Faisal Kamran told Dawn on Monday.

He said the identified hotspots include four areas in the City Division, eight in Civil Lines, five in Cantonment, 16 in Model Town, and six in Iqbal Town Division.

He said that a special deployment of 1,679 officers and personnel, in addition to routine police force, has been arranged to monitor these areas and prevent wheelie and other bike stunts. This contingent, he said, includes six SPs, 22 SDPOs, and 83 SHOs, who will be on duty during the festive period till the end of December.

The DIG says wheelie is a deadly sport which not only endangers the lives of young individuals, but also wreaks havoc on their families.

He says that additional checkpoints and enhanced patrolling will be key features of the plan, to be implemented in the marked areas, while Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) cameras will also be utilised to monitor the major roads and intersections in real time to check bike stunts.

The police will also initiate legal action against facilitators of the youngsters resorting to wheelie etc, particularly the motorcycle mechanics who modify bikes for such dangerous stunts.

“Mechanics involved in bike alterations that enable youngsters to do stunts will also face strict consequences, including arrest and detention,” the DIG warned.

The repeat offenders will also be required to provide surety bonds to ensure compliance, he said.

The DIG also appealed to the parents to keep a check on their children to prevent them from engaging in dangerous bike stunts, besides urging citizens to report such activities and the facilitators (mechanics etc) to police through 15 helpline.

“The surge in wheelie during New Year celebrations poses a significant threat to precious human lives. While the police are making every effort to curb this menace, the support of the public is crucial to achieving our objectives,” he said.

In addition to tackling bike stunts, the DIG said the Lahore SP Security Abdul Wahab has also made a special security and crowd-control plan for Christmas and New Year celebrations, on his direction.

Under the plan, he said, police personnel will be deployed at churches and other key points to ensure public safety during the festivities.

The Lahore police’s proactive measures reflect the Punjab government’s commitment to preserving public peace and preventing any untoward incident, he said.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2024