Concerned over rising cases of two-wheeler theft, the traffic wing of the East Singhbhum police have started slapping fines on vehicles parked in no-parking zones. The idea behind the drive is that if vehicles are parked at designated slots, it is easier to keep a watch.

The drive started outside the P&M Hi-Tech City Centre Mall, which of late has witnessed several cases of two-wheeler theft. On Saturday, three cases of bike lifting were reported to the Bistupur thana by owners of vehicles who had parked their vehicles outside the mall. The same day, another bike theft was reported from the Tata Main Hospital parking stand, another vulnerable spot. Recently, two cases of two-wheeler theft were also reported from the parking area outside Jamshedpur Women's College.

On Monday evening, the traffic cops pulled up 50 two-wheelers and cars parked outside the mall. Two-wheelers owners were fined Rs 200 each, while owners of wrongly parked cars had to pay Rs 400. Two-wheeler owners who were not able to produce insurance, road tax and other related documents were asked to pay extra as per provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

“The mall has a dedicated parking slot,” said Shivendra Kumar, DSP (traffic), East Singhbhum. “Visitors should park their vehicles at the designated parking slot and not leave their vehicles in the open along the busy road next to the mall. We started the drive of imposing fines to teach vehicle owners a lesson.”

He said that from now on cops will patrol the vulnerable spots round the clock.

An official at the Bistupur thana said that Mobile Tigers (beat patrol personnel on bikes) will keep a watch on the spots, apart from mobile vans. “Plainclothes policemen would also be posted at busy markets and parking slots in Bistupur and other places to curb vehicle theft,” the official said, adding that instructions have been given to keep a tab on suspicious persons at the parking areas.