Ahmedabad traffic police have detained an autorickshaw driver after a video showed two young men hanging from the outside of a moving vehicle near the Paldi NID crossroads, prompting action over dangerous driving and the driver’s lack of a licence.
The video was recorded by a motorist travelling behind the autorickshaw while it was moving on the road from Paldi towards the National Institute of Design. It showed the two men hanging from the exterior of the vehicle and performing a stunt while the autorickshaw was in motion.
The incident placed both the men and other road users at risk, according to the report. The footage was later circulated on social media, after which the N Division Traffic Police began tracing the vehicle using its registration number.
The police identified the driver as Himmat Harishbhai Vaghela, a resident of Vatva, and took him into custody for questioning. During the inquiry, he reportedly told investigators that the incident had taken place on the night of 11 November, when he was travelling with friends during Diwali celebrations.
According to the report, Vaghela said the road appeared deserted at the time and that the stunt was carried out while they were travelling together. Police also found that he did not possess a driving licence. A case has been registered and further investigation is under way.
The episode highlights the role of video evidence in traffic enforcement, particularly when dangerous behaviour is captured by other road users rather than reported directly at the scene. In this case, the footage provided the traffic police with the vehicle details needed to identify the autorickshaw and trace its driver.
The police action follows a road-safety concern involving not only passengers and drivers but also pedestrians and motorists sharing the same corridor. The report did not specify the sections of law invoked or the penalties that may follow. Further action will depend on the traffic police investigation and the case registered against the driver.
