Srinagar’s fake HSRP racket shows how cosmetic ‘aesthetics’ can compromise law enforcement and public safety
The busting of an alleged fake High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) racket in Srinagar is not just another crime story; it is a stark reminder of how easily a critical security measure can be reduced to a cosmetic accessory. What began as a complaint from an authorised HSRP vendor has revealed a parallel black market that openly uses social media to undermine a system introduced in the wake of the 2002 Parliament attack to strengthen vehicle identification and deter terror-related misuse. According to the FIR lodged at Saddar Police Station, the complainant, representing Rosmerta Technologies Limited – the authorised HSRP vendor for most vehicle manufacturers in J&K – has alleged that counterfeit plates closely mimicking genuine HSRPs are being manufactured and affixed with impunity. One such operation is reported to have been run through Instagram pages like “Turbo Shine Customs” and “Nishant Elite Plates”, where plates were sold as lifestyle products rather than critical security hardware. The inquiry so far has exposed a troubling blend of ignorance, greed, and lax enforcement. Two youths from Bandipora and Srinagar have admitted to ordering these plates initially for “aesthetic purposes” and social media reels, before turning middlemen and charging a profit per plate. Their claim that they believed the plates were legal because they were widely advertised on Instagram points to a dangerous casualness towards regulatory norms and a near-total absence of digital policing. This is not a mere case of petty cheating. HSRPs carry laser-etched unique identification codes linked to government databases. The allegation that counterfeiters duplicated the “AA” laser code series reserved for Rosmerta, while omitting mandatory security features and violating Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, strikes at the integrity of the entire vehicle identification regime. If fake plates can be freely procured and swapped, the state’s ability to track vehicles involved in crime, militancy, or hit-and-run incidents is severely compromised. The registration of an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the notices issued to the accused are welcome first steps. But the larger challenge lies in dismantling the network behind such rackets, including the alleged main accused based in Delhi, and in tightening oversight over both physical workshops and online marketplaces. Enforcement agencies must coordinate with central authorities, transport departments, and social media platforms to identify, block, and prosecute those who commercialise counterfeit security devices. For their part, vehicle owners must recognise that tampering with HSRPs is not a harmless style choice but a punishable offence with grave implications. A society that treats security infrastructure as a canvas for vanity projects only weakens its own defences. Srinagar’s fake HSRP case should serve as a wake-up call: security measures are only as strong as our collective willingness to respect and enforce them.
