Lucknow |A video showing police action against two-wheeler riders seeking shelter from heavy rain on Lucknow’s Lohia Path has gone viral on social media, sparking a heated debate over sensitivity versus strict enforcement of law. The incident, which took place in the Gautampalli police station area on Tuesday morning, drew sharp criticism from several quarters, prompting an official clarification from the police.
According to eyewitnesses, persistent rainfall across the city forced many commuters to stop briefly under a roadside shed on Lohia Path to avoid getting drenched. The riders, most of whom were on their way to work or daily errands, were not staging a protest or blocking traffic but were simply waiting for the rain to ease.
However, the situation escalated when police vehicles arrived at the spot with sirens on. In the viral video, a police personnel can be seen stepping out of a vehicle and clicking photographs of motorcycles parked under the shed. This led commuters to believe that traffic challans were being issued.
Fearing penalties, several riders hurriedly left the shelter and drove off in the heavy rain. Within moments, the shed was vacated, and people were seen riding away completely drenched. The entire episode was recorded by a bystander and soon spread widely on social media platforms.
As the video gained traction, social media users expressed anger over what they described as an insensitive police response during adverse weather conditions. Many questioned whether enforcing rules should take precedence over public safety and humanitarian considerations during heavy rainfall. Some users argued that police should have assisted commuters instead of forcing them back onto the road.
At the same time, a section of users defended the police, stating that stopping on a main road violates traffic norms and that law enforcement officials were merely performing their duty.
Following the backlash, Lucknow Police issued a clarification. Gautampalli Inspector Ratnesh Singh stated that the action was taken due to the impending movement of the Chief Minister’s convoy along Lohia Path. He explained that, for security reasons, it was necessary to ensure that no crowd or obstruction was present on the roadside during the VVIP movement.
The inspector further clarified that no challans were issued to any commuter and that police personnel were only instructing people to move away in the interest of security.
Despite the clarification, the incident has reignited discussions on balancing law enforcement with empathy, especially during difficult weather conditions.
