“Abide by rules on vehicle number plates”

S.B. Deepak Kumar, Collector and Returning Officer of the Puducherry Lok Sabha constituency, on Thursday issued a warning to those trying to cheat people using fake number plates on their vehicles.

He said that the public should abide by the rules under Motor Vehicles Act as regards vehicle number plates. It had been noticed that there was blatant violation of rules with number plates displaying slogans, inscriptions and photographs supporting political parties. It had also been noticed that number plates were displaying the words ‘Puducherry State,’ ‘UT’, ‘Police’ illegally making it appear as if the vehicles belonged to government officials. These vehicles might be used to ferry alcohol, money, weapons and firearms, hampering law and order. Hence, he told motorists to fix number plates according to the rules or face severe action. Mr. Kumar said that Police and Transport Department officials would carry out vehicle checks to ensure compliance while election officials and flying squad would also be on the lookout of such vehicles.

Fake flying squad dupes man

A group of fraudsters claiming to be officials of election flying squad duped a man of Rs.7.5 lakh at Ayyanar temple near Villianur on Wednesday.

Sivagnansekar, who is running a computer firm in Orleanpet here, lodged a complaint with the Villinanur police after realising that he had been cheated. Sources said that the fraudsters reportedly stopped his bike when he was coming to Puducherry from Pudukuppam to deposit a sum of Rs.7.5 lakh in a bank. They took away the cash from Sivagnansekar and told him to collect it from the Collector’s office after producing documents for carrying it.

The tricksters escaped in a vehicle that carried stickers saying “election urgent.”