NASHIK: Around 2,000 motorists had to cough up Rs 10 lakh as fine within three hours of the police launching a drive to crack a whip on those not wearing helmets and seat-belts across 26 locations in the city on Friday.Among those who paid fines was a woman police sub-inspector (PSI) attached to the taluka police station near Kathe Gali. When a constable handed over a challan of Rs 500 to her, the woman PSI created a scene convincing the constable that she was on duty and rushing for some important work. She had to give in when senior officials arrived at the scene and asked her to pay the fine.Senior police inspector of Bhadrakali police station Mangalsingh Suryawanshi confirmed the incident stating that anyone who was spotted without a heltmet or seat-belt was not let off without a fine.Under the supervision of DCP zone I Laxmikant Patil, DCP zone II Srikrishna Kokate, DCP (headquarters) Madhuri Kangne, all the ACPs, senior police inspectors, 250 police personnel, 12 officials and 156 constables of the traffic branch were deployed across the city.Senior police officials said that three DCPs, 6 ACPs, 25 PIs, 43 APIs and PSIs and 406 head constables and constables checked over 20,000 motorists in a span of three hours. Even social organisations and traffic ambassadors jumped on the bandwagon and spread awareness on traffic rules.Many motorists swore to purchase a helmet at the earliest after shelling out the fine to the police.Motorist Ravindra Kokate, who was fuming after paying a fine of Rs 500, said, "I had only Rs 500 with me. There are guests in my house and my wife sent me out to purchase some grocery. Now that the money is gone, I will have to go home empty-handed. The first thing I am going to do is purchase a helmet. There is no point taking another road on seeing a traffic constable."Commissioner of police Ravinder Kumar Singal said, "The drive that we undertook on Friday was to drive home the point that it is important to follow the rules and regulations. Since rash driving has increased, there has been a spate in the number of accients which is claiming the lives of bikers who do not wear helmets. Many NGOs also joined us in the drive to press on motorists the need to wear safety gears. I want to thank them as well. Such drives would now be undertaken regulalrly on a priority basis."

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