GHAZIABAD: The local police came under fire on various social media platforms on Thursday, a day after photos of policemen led by SP (city) Akash Tomar showering flower petals on kanwariyas on motorbikes were widely circulated. The social media posts were accompanied with terse, acerbic and sarcastic comments on how policemen were showering petals on bikers who threw all traffic rules to the wind including riding without helmets.The photos pertained to a function for kanwariyas held in Indirapuram on Wednesday. The petal-showering by cops was done even as kanwariyas drew flak for having vandalised a car in Motinagar area in West Delhi.The police, however, rejected claims that any bikers attending the function in Indirapuram were travelling without helmets.“The function was organised by Citizen Volunteer Force, raised from among local residents, to facilitate the pilgrimage. I was invited to the function at the behest of the volunteers. The effort was largely aimed at developing social solidarity. More than 60% of the participants were not kanwariyas. I don’t remember any pilgrim riding a bike without a helmet on the occasion. Similar functions are also organised on Eid as well every year,” Tomar told TOI.Incidentally, during the kanwar festival last year, Tomar dressed himself as a pilgrim and travelled pillion on a motorcycle on the roads without wearing a helmet himself which he had termed as a routine checking activity. Social media in the city had gone agog with heated debates over a senior officer riding a motorcycle without a helmet.“The exercise that was undertaken on a motorcycle last year was basically for intelligence gathering. It was to ensure first hand if all amenities were available to pilgrims and the route was clear of all possible dangers,” said Tomar.

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