Ahmedabad Police’s ‘Night Combing’ Drive Draws Flak

Ahmedabad : The recent ‘night combing’ operation by the Ahmedabad police has sparked widespread frustration among citizens after 3,000 vehicles were seized due to missing or incomplete documentation. The stringent drive, conducted across the city by seven police zones, Special Operation Group, Crime Branch, and Traffic Police, aimed to ensure compliance with vehicle documentation. However, the aftermath has left vehicle owners grappling with a cumbersome recovery process at the Regional Transport Office (RTO).

During the operation, which ran from Monday evening to Tuesday morning, fines totaling ₹12.82 lakh were collected from 1,684 vehicle owners. Over two nights, approximately 3,000 vehicles were impounded, and their documents handed over to the RTO for verification.

To retrieve their vehicles, owners must pay a fine, obtain a receipt, and present it at their respective police stations for a clearance note. This process, however, has proven anything but seamless.

A Tedious Recovery Process

The memo issued during the drive cites infractions such as missing driving licenses, RC books, or helmets. Upon submission to the RTO, additional issues like lapsed insurance or Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates are identified, often accompanied by demands for payment of pending fines.

The lack of coordination between the police and RTO has led to chaotic scenes at the RTO, with hundreds of citizens crowding the premises. Each day, only 100 tokens are issued, forcing many to wait up to 15 days to retrieve their vehicles.

Adding to citizens’ woes, the fines imposed range from ₹3,000 to ₹6,000 per vehicle. Piles of impounded two-wheelers are accumulating across the city’s 60 police stations, further straining the process.

Digital Documentation Disputes

Many citizens have raised concerns about fines being imposed even when they presented valid digital documents. While digital storage platforms such as DigiLocker are legally acceptable, citizens claim that some officers did not acknowledge them during the combing drive, adding to their grievances.

Public Backlash

The drive, initially aimed at ensuring road safety and adherence to laws, has drawn sharp criticism from citizens, who feel the system lacks efficiency and coordination. While police officials maintain that the operation is necessary for law enforcement, the slow recovery process and heavy fines have left many questioning its implementation.

Ahmedabad’s vehicle owners are now urging authorities to streamline coordination between the police and RTO, simplify the retrieval process, and accept digital documents to avoid further inconvenience. The city awaits a response as frustration mounts over the prolonged disruption caused by the combing drive.