Shillong, Jan 12: East Khasi Hills police has issued advisories cautioning citizens on fake e-challan messages sent by cyber criminals and traffic advisory requesting the public to comply with necessary instructions.
Police have urged citizens not to click on links in SMS, WhatsApp, or email claiming e-challans on traffic violations and demanding immediate payments. It requested the public to verify challans only through the official Ministry of Road Transport & Highways website (https://parivahan.gov.in); to check the sender as official challans are sent from verified government IDs and not personal numbers; to never share OTP, CVV, PIN, Aadhaar, bank details, or personal information, to avoid payments through QR codes or unknown links/sources; to install apps only from official stores (Play Store/Apple Store) and keep phones updated with latest security patches and antivirus software.
On receiving a fake e-challan message, citizens are requested to ignore and delete the message and not to forward it, following which they are asked to report the fraud to Cyber Crime Helpline No. 1930 or website www.cybercrime.gov.in. Citizens are also requested to verify with local traffic police if necessary.
If the link to the fake challans has been clicked or paid, citizens are asked to immediately block their bank account/card/UPI and contact bank customer care and file a complaint on www.cybercrime.gov.in with transaction details to freeze accounts or recover money.
The advisory also cautioned, “Government authorities never ask for urgent payments or sensitive details via random links.”
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) Vivek Syiem on Monday said parking is prohibited in designated no‑parking stretches and busy corridors with violations attracting a penalty of ₹500 and ₹1,500 for subsequent offences or ₹2,000 including towing (Section 177/179(1) MV Act).
Local and tourist taxis must park only at designated taxi stands or authorized parking areas while rash overtaking, especially in congested areas, curves, junctions, or narrow roads, is prohibited. Two‑wheeler riders must wear helmets (mandatory by law). Penalties range from ₹2,000 to ₹10,000 for violations under Sections 179(1)/184/194 MV Act, the advisory added.
Loads must be properly covered and secured as violations incur a ₹2,000 penalty under Section 179(1) MV Act, it said
Drunk driving is a serious offence and shall be dealt with strictly. Anyone found to be driving under the influence of alcohol exceeding permissible limit (30 mg/100 ml of blood) shall be punishable under Section 185 MV Act with a ₹10,000 fine or imprisonment up to 6 months or with both, it added.
