While Ramazan is the month of fasting and worship, the youth make most of the leisure time it offers, especially in the night, as they hold cricket tourneys and motorcycle races in Hyderabad.
Before Sehri, every neighbourhood is abuzz with crowds as young men play cricket under heavy lights powered by electricity stolen directly from the electricity poles. After Sehri, they ride out on their silencer-less motorcycles to race on the city's roads.
They are not bothered about the inconvenience they cause to people with the noise pollution their thundering two-wheelers create.
Young motorcyclists emerge in groups in various neighbourhoods of the city, including Thandi Road, Hyderabad-Tando Muhammad Khan Road, and Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Road. They resort to one-wheeling, making dangerous stunts or racing, risking their own lives.
People also turn up on both sides of the roads to cheer these motorcyclists. They shoot videos of these dare-devil stuntmen with their mobile phones.
This dangerous pastime has resulted in countless accidents on the roads and several young men have lost their lives. But this does not deter the young motor bikers to give up one-wheeling, racing or dangerous stunts.
These night-riders are also a nuisance for regular traffic on the city's roads, especially in Latifabad and Qasimabad, as they are either not aware of traffic rules or flout them with impunity.
They never respect the red-light at Gymkhana Chowk and Qasim Chowk.
As per the spokesperson for the district police, the SSP Hyderabad Amjad Ahmed Sheikh has taken notice of the growing complaints of one-wheeling on the main road near the Cantt cemetery.
Several young motorcyclists have been taken into custody by police in a crackdown ordered by the SSP.
SSP Sheikh also appealed to Hyderabad citizens to keep a close eye on their children and stop them from risking their lives by one-wheeling and racing.
Makki Shah police said they have arrested at least 15 youth and impounded eight motorcycles. However, they were later released after reprimand.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2023.
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