New Media


	I Vow to Eradicate Drunken Driving Police Commissioner D. Sivanandhan is deeply anguished over the tragic demise of Traffic Sub-Inspector Dinanath Shinde in the recent car crash involving a drunken woman driver. The tragedy also claimed the life of civilian biker Afzal Ibrahim, besides leaving four policemen severely injured. Talking to The Mumbai PROTECTOR, a visibly moved Sivanandhan vowed to eradicate the menace of drunken driving from Mumbai Roads. What is your specific reaction to this tragedy? My comment is very simple. Every individual has got a right to kill himself or herself by drinking or for various other reasons if they have got too much of money. But they have no right to kill any other innocent citizen who is walking or driving on the road or doing any thing else. More so, I'm being vehement in my statement that nobody has got the right to drink or do drugs and then come and kill policemen who are doing their duty. When policemen are setting the society right and committed to doing their job nobody has the right to kill them. It is utterly condemnable from the bottom of my heart. As for Shinde, I saw him dying and I felt absolutely bad. I am collecting Rs 25 lakh, which I am going to present to his widow in the next few days. We will ensure that their children are educated and their house is maintained and employment is provided to Mrs. Shinde. We are committed to provide all these things. I have sent a proposal to the government to give the family Rs. 25 lakh, pay salary up to the age of 58 years, provide a house and other facilities. Such compensation will be provided to all policemen who are killed tragically like this while they are doing their duty. At present such compensation is provided only to those in the Naxal-affected areas but it will come through even for Mumbai and other places. I am also concerned about the policeman who is in hospital. All his bones are crushed and it will take some eight to nine months for him to recover. I am concerned about what has happened to him. Meanwhile, we have got the reports that this woman (Nooria Haveliwala), who perpetrated this irresponsible deed, was not only on drinks, she was also on drugs. This is an irresponsible act by people who are well-to-do. I condemn it. I disagree with this kind of murder in which they are indulging. Do you call for more stringent laws to curb drunken driving? Stringent laws are not enough. If hanging people can deter crime, why are murders taking place? I would only call for stringent action by the parents who can control their children. And also bring some values into their lives such as that they should not drink and drive or do drugs and drive. I condemn those parents who give their irresponsible children CRVs and such other powerful vehicles. So changing laws or making them more stringent is not going to check the crime. But yes, we can definitely make an attempt. Your ongoing drive has actually brought down the number drunken driving cases… We are going to carry on the drive with more vigour now. In 2010 we will bring down the number of accidental killings to the maximum extent. In the wake of Shinde's death, we have taken a vow that we will eradicate drunken driving on the roads of Mumbai..