A comedy of errors by the district police pushed commuters in Puttur into thinking that the government had hurriedly introduced a new rule: making helmets compulsory for auto drivers!

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The rumour got a fillip with a receipt, issued by the police fining an auto driver for not wearing helmet, going viral on social media.

Police from the Puttur station on Monday charged an auto rickshaw driver ferrying school children Rs 700, citing two violations – carrying more than three passengers and not wearing a helmet.

TOI

While the first violation was evident as the auto driver Vittala was ferrying nine school children, neither Vittala nor netizens were able to comprehend the second violation – not wearing a helmet.

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The challan issued by the police PTR – 94807159 reads “without helmet” under the Nature of Offence section.

BCCL/REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE

Alarmed with their goof-up, the police are said to have recalled the receipt and made necessary correction.

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However, when contacted, neither the police from Puttur Town, nor from Puttur Rural or Puttur Traffic agreed to the goof-up. Officials at all three police stations maintained they were unaware about the incident.