Video: Protesting Truck Drivers Attack, Chase Away Police Officer In Maharashtra (Photo on X Sudhir Suryawanshi @ss_suryawanshi)
A video of the protesting truck drivers attacking and chasing away the police officer has surfaced online that showed a group of them attacking a policeman at Nerul, Navi in Mumbai. On Monday, several areas of Maharashtra witnessed protests against the rigorous punishment and high fine outlined for motorists under the hit-and-run provision in the new penal law.
The new penal law, which replaced the colonial code says that drivers who make serious road accidents by negligent driving and then run away from the spot without approaching the police or any other officials can get punishment of up to 10 years or a fine amounting to Rs 7 Lakh.
The agitators called for the withdrawal of the new penal provision in the penal code, with many parts of the state witnessing protests. The ‘rasta roko’ protest forced the police to disperse the mob thronged on the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway, following the attack on the policeman, which led to injuries on the police personnel.
Trying to block the traffic on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, the protesters hurled stones at policemen who tried to control them. The stone hurling left one of the policemen injured. Besides, the stone pelting also caused a police vehicle to get damaged. Several other areas of Maharashtra also saw the roadblocking protests. However, the officials have said that the situation is now under control.
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Talking about the situation, Nashik District Petrol Dealers Association president Bhushan Bhosale said: “If the agitation is not called off, many fuel stations in Nashik district will run dry as they are not allowing dealers to fill their tankers. The gates have been closed and not a single tanker was allowed to carry fuel.”
However, at least 40 truck drivers have been detained and around six persons who were involved in the attack against the policeman have also been identified, according to officials.
Syed Wajed, one of the protesting truck drivers asked how the truck drivers pay such huge fines. The Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole told reporters in Mumbai that the new provision is unjust and harsh on motorists. “This provision is unjust and harsh on motorists. Truck drivers, car drivers and even two-wheeler riders are afraid to drive because of this provision,” he said.
However, with drivers of trucks calling for protests and stopping to fill fuel in petrol pumps, many petrol pumps are at risk and some have even stopped functioning. The association of petrol pump dealers have also warned that many fuel pumps “will end up dry by Tuesday if the situation does not change.”
“Drivers of tankers that carry fuel from Panewadi (in Nashik) have called for agitation and have stopped filling fuel. Around 900 to 1,200 tankers carry fuel from depots of oil companies and transport it to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Dhule, Jalgaon and other districts,” Aqeel Abbas Secretary of Petroleum Dealers Association said, The New Indian Express reported
