Mumbai cops on duty are victims of road accidents

The number of policemen dying while on routine policing duties such as nakabandis in Mumbai has also shown a spurt. In the past eight months, at least 10 such incidents have occurred in the city raising questions on the safety of these policemen who are on duty and are vulnerable.

In December last year, Balaji Dahifude, assistant police inspector sustained injuries after a biker, Mahmood Dongrekar, a disc jockey rammed his two-wheeler into him, during a nakabandi, in an attempt to escape.

Similarly, on January 26, a police constable attached with Marol division of Local Arms and a total of 31 police personnel, including 10 women constables, were injured with eight sustaining grievous injuries while they were heading for nakabandi in Versova when they were hit by a speeding tanker.

In numbers

Not only is the number of fatalities in road accidents across the state alarming, but the number of accidents occurring in the financial capital has also been showing a sharp upward curve over the past few years.

In 2010-11, 2583 road mishaps were reported in Mumbai.

The number increased to 2867 in 2011-12, a rise of 11 per cent.

Between 2008-09 and 2009-10 too, there was a sharp rise in accidents on Mumbai's roads, from 1437 cases to 2080 cases. Between 2009-10 and 2010-11, the city saw a 24 per cent increase in the incidence of accidents, from 2080 cases to 2583 cases.