In past one week, the traffic police in Srinagar have booked more than 4000 people for traffic rule violations and realized a fine of more than rupees five lakh fifty thousand.

The traffic police has launched a vigorous ad campaign seeking people's cooperation and at the same time intensified its drive against law breakers. And for the first time after the eruption of militancy in the state, the police have started to book vehicle owners for using tinted glass or illegally mounting the red flash lights on the vehicles. The traffic police, in fact, have published the list of politicians and bureaucrats, who can use the red lights on their vehicles.

"We have launched a traffic awareness campaign," said Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Syed Kifayat Haider. "After this we will be strictly enforcing the law even if means putting the offenders behind the bars. In past, we desisted from putting it so that people don't feel they are harassed".

On the streets of Srinagar city, traffic policemen are deployed on all major roads, stopping the vehicles, checking their papers and booking the violators for the violations of traffic rules.

On Jan 28, the traffic police booked 419 violators and realised a fine of Rs 56, 800 followed by booking 448 people on Jan 29 with total fine realization of Rs 73, 100. On January 30, the department registered cases against 570 vehicle owners and realised a fine of Rs 77650. A day later, 542 violators were booked and a fine of Rs 65000/- realized from them. On Feb 1, 2 and 3, 453, 885 and 885 cases were registered respectively and a fine of Rs 60, 800, 1, 20, 000 and 65,950 were realized.

The traffic police are also planning a strict adherence to laws to manage the increasing traffic in valley. SSP Haider said that next time if a scooterist moves without a crash helmet or drives without a valid driving license, he will be put behind the bars for 24 hours.