Lucknow, May 31 (IANS): The Lucknow traffic police sub-inspectors have been stripped of their power to issue challans for violations of rules to drivers here.

The orders were issued by Lucknow Inspector General (IG) of Police Ashutosh Pandey late Wednesday after his office received a large number of complaints, accusing traffic cops of extortion and bribery.

The orders were implemented immediately and the challan books of all traffic police sub-inspectors (TCIs) were taken away and handed over to the civil police.

The IG admitted that he had come to know that TSIs were extorting money from people in the name of traffic rules. "This cannot be tolerated and hence this action has been taken," Pandey told IANS, adding that the orders would be effective for the next fortnight.

The traffic police personnel would only be overseeing the traffic situation in the state capital and would work towards improving it, Pandey said.

Asking the traffic cops to "mend their ways" if they wanted their powers back, the inspector general has also assured them that in case they find traffic violators tough to handle and issuing a challan becomes necessary, they could inform the local police to take required action.