Mussoorie cops’ decision is an infringment of our personal space: Doon’s youngsters

If you are a youngster, who is planning to go to Mussoorie without informing your parents, you might want to think twice as the Mussoorie police is all set to spoil your plans. In an initiative taken by the Mussoorie Police, youngsters entering the city will have to make their parents speak to the cops at the check point, confirming that they have their guardians’ approval to visit the city.While the Mussoorie Police believes that the initiative will help decrease the number of accidents in the city, youngsters tell us that they are unhappy with the decision as this is an infringement of their personal space.
We are adults, why do we need our parents' permission for every trip?

Prajwal, a BCom student from Araghar, says, "Mussoorie is just a half-an-hour drive from my college and I often go and hang out there. Making the cops speak to my parents on every trip makes no sense. Also, we are adults, we are free to go anytime, anywhere. This moral policing is not justified."
'I will have to shift my Valentine's Day plan now'
For many youngsters in Doon, the news, which is out just a few weeks before Valentine's Day, has come as a shock. Birmal, a BSc student from Haridwar Road, says, "Since the past two years, my girlfriend and I have been visiting Mussoorie to celebrate Valentine's Day. We never shared our plans with our parents because we didn't want things to get awkward. This decision has spoiled our plans. It is hard to come to terms with it as it is hindering our choice as adults."
Party plans in Mussoorie highjacked (BCCL/Taresh Dutta)
'What if my friends speak to the cops as my parents, how will the police get to know?'
A lot of youngsters have pointed out flaws in the initiative. Some have questioned the authorities as to how they will make sure that person they are speaking to on the phone is their parent and not their friend, talking as their parent.
Vandana, a BBA student from Rajendra Nagar, says, "If police asks wants to speak to my parents I can call my friend and ask him/her to speak to them as my parent. How will they get to know? I don't think this initiative will be successful."
The decision evokes a mixed response from parents
While the youngsters are unhappy with the decision, it has received mixed reactions from the parents in the city.
Rajeev, a businessman from Canal Road, says, "In today's time, we don't need to keep a constant check on our children as this will make them rebellious. I have a 22-year-old son and I have always allowed him to travel wherever he wants. I will not like the police to stop my son and ask him all these questions. I trust my child and I don’t think a decision like this will be of any use."
Geeta, a homemaker from Nehru Colony, says, "It is a good initiative. At least now I will know when my kid travels to another city. There has been incidents when my son has told me that he was going for a night stay at his friend’s place and later, only when our relatives saw him in Mussoorie, I got to know that he has gone to Mussoorie with his friends. This initiative will create a fear in the mind of kids and they will inform their parents about their whereabouts."
We have taken this initiative to curb drunk driving in the city: SHO Mussoorie Police

Bhawna Kainthola, SHO Mussoorie Police, says, "We issue most of the challans to youngsters for drunk driving which is the root cause of accidents in the city. So, to keep this behaviour in check, we have started this initiative where we will cross-check with parents of all the youngsters at Kolhukhet. They will have to give their contact details along with other documents and we will also call their parents to confirm if they have sought permission from them. In case the parents deny, the children will be sent back."
Adding on this she says, "This initiative will create a fear in the mind of youngsters and they will think twice before drinking and driving in the hills. We have been receiving messages from parents across the city appreciating the initiative."