Transporters threaten strike over Basant Rath’s harassment
Srinagar, : In a worrying development, members of All J&K Transport Welfare Association have warned to go on strike if the harassment to public transport drivers/ conductors is not stopped by the Traffic Police within next five days.
According to the Kashmir News Bureau sources, a meeting of the Association was held here on Saturday in this regard under the chairmanship of TS Wazir in which members expressed serious concern over the attitude of Traffic Police specially, IG Traffic Basant Rath who is allegedly beating the drivers/ conductors and abusing them and even snatching their money bags on certain occasions (used for fare collection).
They said under such circumstances the transporters/ operators are unable to carry on vehicles’ operation. They gave five days’ ultimatum to stop unnecessary harassment otherwise; public transport operators will go on strike.
No transport vehicle will ply on the roads and Traffic department will be responsible for inconvenience to the general public, they maintained.
On 22th March the incumbent Inspector General of Police (Traffic) Basant known for his positive ‘rowdyism’ turned red-faced after he unknowingly posted a photo on social media showing a police vehicle towing by the Traffic police crane Police with a caption “equality before Law ladies and gentlemen,” though the photo evoked a good response from netizens, however, later it turns a hoax after Police clarified that the Vehicle was towed by Traffic department on request of a local police station.
