By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
The State on Monday informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the Director General of Police (DGP) has issued a circular requesting the Commissioners of Police and the Superintendents of Police to issue instructions to Station House Officers in their jurisdiction to ensure the safety and security of 108 ambulance crew when they pass through the crowd without any disturbances.
“It is noticed that various political parties and other organisations frequently organise demonstrations, agitations, public meetings and other congregations on roads and public places. In this connection, instructions were issued for strict compliance,” the circular said. As per the circular, programmes should not be permitted to obstruct main thoroughfares and arterial roads. If unavoidable, proper traffic diversion plans should be drawn up and effectively implemented in advance, with adequate public information.
Whenever meetings or congregations are organised on road margins or near junctions, appropriate bandobast and security arrangements should be made. Adequate deployment of personnel should be ensured to regulate traffic smoothly and prevent public inconvenience.
It should be ensured on priority that all emergency vehicles including 108 ambulances, fire and rescue services vehicles and police response units are able to move without hindrance or obstruction. Dedicated passageways should be kept free and traffic personnel deployed to facilitate their movement swiftly.
Proper barricading, crowd management and security measures should be taken to avoid untoward incidents. Local hospital authorities and fire and rescue services may be sensitised whenever large scale events are planned.
Taking cognisance of the circular, a Division Bench of Justices Anita Sumanth and C. Kumarappan closed a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to the State to provide adequate police protection to 108 ambulance crew members and Emergency Medical Technicians across Tamil Nadu till the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections in 2026 is completed.
The petitioner M. Erulandi of Madurai, state general secretary of Tamil Nadu 108 Emergency Vehicle Tholizhalar Munnetra Sangam cited two recent incidents reported in Vellore and Tiruchi districts respectively in which 108 ambulance pilots and crew members were threatened during the AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s ‘Makkalai Kaappom, Thamilagathai Meetpom’ campaign.
He complained the 108 ambulance crew members were facing continuous threat. The authorities have to ensure the safety and security of the 108 ambulance crew members till the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections in 2026 are over, he said.
