Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 10:

The government today said it has just “requested” people not to ride pillion on motorcycles, but there is no ban as such, not the way it has been reported in the media. “The home ministry has not banned pillion riding per se,” said Netra Neupaney, acting CDO of Kathmandu.

“The ministry has requested people not to ride pillion as Maoists are increasingly using motorcycles to spread terror,” he told the media at his office in Babarmahal. He added that he did not have the authority to take action against those found riding pillion. Neupaney added he was confident the “request” would not inconvenience people as his office had not received any complaint. Superintendent of police at the Valley Traffic Police Office, Ramshahpath, Romendra Singh Deuja, said traffic police have not taken any action against pillion riders, as, according to him, the office has not received any official letter from the ministry about it. Talking to this daily, he said: “We’ll take action only if the government makes it a law and issues a formal notice.” In Kathmandu today, people were seen riding pillion despite the government’s “request”.