Cops’ crackdown angers auto drivers

Cops’ crackdown angers auto drivers
New INdian Express

BANGALORE: A large number of auto rickshaw drivers on Tuesday went on a snap strike after the city police began a crackdown on Indian Motor Vehicle Act violations.

In just four hours, from 5 am to 9 am, the traffic police booked over 100 cases against auto rickshaw drivers.

A majority of the cases related to drivers refusing to go to a destination. The police even seized many auto rickshaws.

Auto drivers’ union members said they staged a protest at Corporation Circle after they learnt that police had asked them to pay Rs 2,000 each to get back their vehicles.

However, the ‘penalty’ turned out to be a bit of false information and the matter was sorted out only when senior officers clarified there was no such demand when some drivers stormed into the Police Commissioner’s office.

‘‘The police agreed to release the vehicles on submission of RC books, DLs or permit documents.

“But later, they asked us to pay a penalty of Rs 500 in the court for them to release the documents,’’ said Assistant General Secretary of Adarsha Auto drivers Association Sampath.

Association general secretary Narayana Murthy said cases were booked by policemen in mufti. The police should book a case only if a passenger gives a written complaint, he said.

However, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M N Reddi said that public transport like autorickshaws are authorised to run on certain conditions and violating those conditions was punishable.

Refusal to go on hire is one such violation and the police would continue the drive for two weeks, he said.

‘‘We have been getting complaints from the public,’’ he added. Adarsha Auto Drivers Association, Bangalore Auto and Taxi Association, and Self-Employed Auto Drivers Association protested the action.