CHENNAI: The Mahabalipuram police have booked 14 youth, including college students and employed persons, from Chennai on Sunday for racing on East Coast Road (ECR) between the city and Puducherry.
Police said it was part of a crackdown on bike racing on the arterial road following a directive from the office of DGP. “They were moving at high speed on Sunday around 6 am near Mahabalipuram when we intercepted them. All their bikes were powerful and some were very costly foreign brands,” said a police officer.
While bets are usually placed in such racing, on Sunday no such bets were involved, said police.
“Everyone denied there were bets. They were racing between Chennai and Puducherry just for weekend fun,” said another officer.
The DGP’s office issued he directive after there were reports of pedestrians dying in accidents involving speeding bikes.
“The youth have formed various clubs among themselves and organise such races on weekends. What causes concern is that they zip at high speeds and the workers laying roads (mostly at night and early morning) complain that they feel scared,” said a senior police officer.
The Mahabalipuram police have booked all the 14 and have seized their bikes. The police said the vigil against such speeding bikes would continue on ECR.
