Superintendent of police (traffic) Ajit Peter Dungdung has told junior officers that they will be held responsible for the death of motorcyclists without helmets.

The diktat comes after Dungdung found a spurt in the number of motorcycle-related deaths in 2019.

The SP said he has also directed his juniors to slap double the fine on police personnel found driving without helmet, as it is not possible to implement the rule if law enforcers themselves violate it.

“The memo was issued after I observed that they are not taking proper action against motorcyclists riding bikes without helmets. The number of deaths involving motorbikes has increased this year,” Dungdung said.

According to data in the memo, 227 accidents involving two-wheelers were registered in 2018 in the state capital. Of them, 136 died and 191 suffered injuries.

In 2019, as many as 273 accidents involving motorbikes were reported and 201 people died, while 181 people suffered injuries in these accidents.

The SP’s memo suggests of the total deceased, 80 per cent were pillion riders without helmets. “Though it is true that according to the principle of volenti-non-fit-injuria of law of tort, liability of death is on pillion riders themselves who ride without helmets on motorbikes, but under Section 128 read with 194c of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is breach of duty,” the memo read.

The memo directs deputy superintendent of police sitting at the CCTV control room to monitor every roundabout and see how many people drive motorbikes without helmets and how many of them are issued challans for the violation, to fix responsibility.