Patna, Feb 3 (IANS): A senior Bihar police officer, who introduced the concept of emergency bells, has removed yellow beacon lights from his official vehicle and will use blue lights instead.

Arvind Pandey, zonal IG of Darbhanga range, has become the first Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in the state to remove yellow beacon lights from his official vehicle.

"I have removed yellow beacon lights in view of the Supreme Court's order," said Pandey, who was in the news last month for introducing an emergency bell known as the 'Jehangiri ghanti' at the residences of all police officials in Darbhanga district.

Pandey said he will use only blue beacon lights as per the provision of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

"I expect that other police officials, particularly the IPS officials, will follow suit," he said.

Pandey told IANS that blue beacons on official police vehicles will send out a friendly message.

"Police officials should come forward to remove yellow beacons and should start using blue beacon lights," he said.

Last year, the Supreme Court said red beacon lights, with or without flashers, would be used only on the vehicles of high constitutional dignitaries and blue or multi-coloured beacon lights will be used only on emergency services vehicles and police vehicles.

Pandey said his innovative experiment to introduce emergency bells, which anybody in distress can ring for action round-the-clock, at the residences of all police officials, was supported by the people.

He said the inspiration for the emergency bell was taken from the concept of 'insaaf ka ghanta' (bell of justice) that was placed outside the palace of Mughal emperor Jehangir.