Kolkata: Bidhannagar Police on Friday started providing police clearance certificates to auto, e-rickshaw and toto operators in Salt Lake, New Town and other areas under the commissionerate. The move follows the verification of background and their identification details.
A week ago, an e-rickshaw operator was arrested for allegedly murdering and raping a Class 8 girl in a desolate area in New Town, under the pretext of giving her a ride back home at night. The accused, Soumitra Roy (22), who was out on bail in the dowry death case of his first wife and alleged molestation of the girlfriend of another friend at Ranaghat, is currently in police custody.
As per an estimate, there are around 14,000 totos, 12,000 e-rickshaws, and 11,000 autos operating within the commissionerate area. On Friday, police clearance certificates were provided to around 600 e-rickshaw and toto drivers.
The certificate, valid for six months, carries a photograph of the driver, his Aadhaar details, full address and the police station jurisdiction where he plies his vehicle. The certificate also mentions if the operator has any past criminal record. Police have asked the drivers to display the certificate on the vehicle.
A separate certificate has been provided by the union authorities that display the operator's name, mobile number, address, and photograph for quick identification.
"Now that the police have started maintaining a database and are running a background check, we feel a bit safer," said Moumi Debnath, a New Town CE Block resident.
Officers stated that the move would make the operators aware that the authorities were monitoring them.