Date:26/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/26/stories/2007122661630400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Novel way of protest against helmets

Staff Reporter

Urban rickshawallah: Mohd. Amanullah Khan wears a helmet and holds a placard as he rides a cycle rickshaw protesting against helmets .

HYDERABAD: Wearing a helmet is no way of protesting against the enforcement of compulsory helmet. However, convenor of the Telangana Two-wheeler Riders Association Mohd. Amanullah Khan thought otherwise. On Tuesday he rode a cycle rickshaw from Golkonda Fort to Nampally Railway Station wearing a helmet and holding a placard asking people to observe the New Year Day as ‘No Helmet Day’.

This was in protest against the compulsory enforcement of helmets in general and against Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K.V.S. Kaumudi’s appeal to people to gift helmets on the new year, in specific. He described the appeal as a hidden agenda. .

The members of the association will gather in the middle of the Tank Bund on January 1 and throw their helmets into the waters of Hussain Sagar in a symbolic protest, Mr. Khan said. Syed Ghouse Lucky, another association member, also wearing a helmet, accompanied Mr. Khan on the drive while a helmet-wearing puller tugged the rickshaw.