Puducherry, Feb 4 (UNI) The Puducherry government is making helmet compulsory for two wheeler riders in the Union Territory with effect from May 1, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said today. Addressing a press conference along with Director General of Police Goutham and a host of senior police officials here, Mr Narayanasamy said several fatal accidents happened as the two wheeler riders are not using helmets. As many as 710 road accidents occurred in 2016, of which, 60 had died due to head injuries, he said, adding that hence helmet is being made compulsory the violators will be punished stringently. The Chief Minister claimed that the law and order situation has improved considerably after the Congress government assumed office in June 2016. It has curbed crimes such as murders, chain snatching, land and house grabbing, crimes against women among others which was rampant before .The government is committed to ensure the safety of the people and also the people coming from other states as tourists, he added. Mr Narayanasamy said Rowdies who indulged in extortion of money from industrialists by threatening them and also by abducting their children are now behind bars, fake lottery tickets were eradicated from the UT, besides drugs and intoxicating stuffs and added that 3215 cases--79 percent of the total cases registered in 2016 were resolved.

UNI PAB CS 1228