Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 14: Several transport operators of Jammu- R S Pura and Jammu-Kathua route were injured after police resorted to lathi-charge on them at Bikram Chowk when they were staging protest demonstration against the Traffic Police for harassing bus operators on collection of ‘Hafta’ today.
The trouble started when a Traffic Police Officer deputed at Bikram Chowk allegedly seized a bus of R S Pura route at around 11.30 am for not paying hiked ‘entry’ (Hafta/ Graft) to the Traffic men. The driver of the bus approached the Union office. Over this, presidents Jammu-R S Pura and Jammu- Kathua Bus Unions along with other office bearers and bus operators rushed to the Bikram Chowk. They met the DTI and requested him to release the vehicle and not harass the operators when they are paying ‘Entry’ to Traffic police regularly. The Traffic officer refused to listen and also claimed that Entry has been increased from Rs 300 to Rs 500. There had been some altercation over the issue.
The transport operators observing the arrogant attitude of the Traffic DTI Jamrood Singh and other men in uniform, then blocked the road and resorted to protest demonstration. They disrupted the movement of traffic and started raising slogans against Transport Minister, Home Minister (CM) and Traffic Police. The traffic at the busy junction came to grinding halt. Later, the Executive Police supported by Traffic men resorted to lathi-charge and cleared the road. Some of the operators sustained injuries in police action.
Later, in an emergency meeting of the All J&K Transport Welfare Association held at Ware House today, all the bus, mini-bus, Taxies and auto-rikshaw operators condemned police action and threatened to go on strike. They alleged that Traffic Police was harassing drivers and collecting ‘Hafta’ forcefully. Rashpal Singh from Kathua Union and JK Sharma general secretary of the Association said in view of harassment and ever increasing demands of Traffic cops, it has become very difficult to operate on roads. They said cops have increase ‘Entry’ from Rs 200 to Rs 500 for buses/ mini-buses and at every point whether B C Road, Bikram Chowk, Satwari, Bari-Brahmana, Nagrota or other points, they are made to pay. Even during nights, local police also sets up ‘nakas’ and collects entry. They alleged that in spite of their prime duty of traffic regulation, they are always seen collecting ‘Hafta’ and tracing registration numbers of the vehicles for making collection. Under such situation of ‘loot’ and lawlessness it has become very difficult for them to operate.
Leaders of Passenger Transport Unions and representatives of operators unions who earlier decided to go on strike from tomorrow said that they called off their strike after assurance given by DIG Traffic Shakeel Beig during meeting at Police Control Room late this evening. They said the DIG gave assurance to take action against DTI Jamrood Singh who was later attached. The DIG also assured to lift extra traffic police nakas from the roads and also assured to take some corrective measures. SSP Traffic told the Excelsior tonight that DTI has been attached and transporters called off their strike on assurance from DIG during meeting.
Prominent among others present in the meeting included Vijay Kumar, Kuldip Singh president Kathua Union, Bharat Bhushan president Chhamb Route Bus Union, B B Gupta president Poonch Route Bus Union, Pritam Singh president Banihal Route Bus Union, Shanti Saroop president Auto Union, K D Singh president Taxi Union, Vijay Singh Chib president 2×2 Bus Union, president Matador Union D K Mehra and Ram Pal Sharma general secretary and Rashpal Singh from J&K Transport Welfare Association.
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