Over-reactive security concerns

Mindless directives are being issued curbing public freedom, interest and convenience in a blanket fashion. Bafflingly, authorities have indefinitely banned motor cyclists from carrying passengers on the back seat or front and that launch passengers will be issued tickets for cabins only after checking their national identity cards.

Typically for the 11 lakh owners of motor cycles and their middle class families, the directive comes as a ruthless denial of a convenient, multi-purpose and relatively affordable mode of personal conveyance. It is patently impractical and unfeasible to keep off all but the biker from riding it. Are the rest of the families not being thrown on to the street to fend for themselves? 

As for the requirement to check NID for issuance of ticket for cabin passengers in launches, two points arise: First, it is perfunctory when  limited to cabin passengers only; and secondly, not all intending passengers may have the NID. Use metal detectors, if need be, at launch terminals.

In the case of motor cyclists, close and frequent patrolling, operable CCTVs, hot pursuit capacity building and documentation checking hold the answer for the bomb hurlers.

Why reel off directives without assessing impact these are likely to have on public life? In the name of security, citizens are being subjected to the whims and caprice of law enforcers which needs to be addressed squarely. 

By the government's own admission, and which is public knowledge too, terrorists, saboteurs and miscreants are a miniscule number. They require nothing short of targeted and focused measures to be flushed out.