Truckers protest against stringent 'hit and run' provision in new penal law turns violent at some places in parts of Maharashtra

Truckers across Maharashtra have launched widespread rasta roko protests against the stringent hitandrun provisions in the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita BNS penal law The demonstrations took a violent turn in Navi Mumbai where clashes between truckers and police on the MumbaiBengaluru Highway resulted in injuries prompting authorities to use force for crowd dispersalSimilar incidents unfolded in various districts including Thane Solapur Kolhapur Nagpur and GondiaTruck drivers tried to block traffic on the MumbaiAhmedabad Highway in Mira Bhayandar area in Thane district and hurled stones at police personnel leaving a policeman injured A police vehicle was damaged in stone peltingRoad blockade protests were also held in Solapur Kolhapur Nagpur and Gondia districts officials said adding that the situation in Navi Mumbai and other places is under controlIn Nashik district in north Maharashtra tanker drivers stopped work and parked more than 1000 vehicles in Panewadi village home to fuel depots on MondayPanewadi village in Nandgaon taluka has fuel depots of Bharat Petroleum Hindustan Petroleum and Indian Oil and LPG filling stations and fuel from these depots is transported to various parts of the stateldquoIf 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 Nashik District Petrol Dealers Association president Bhushan Bhosale saidUnder the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita BNS which replaced the colonial era Indian Penal Code drivers who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing the police or any official from the administration can face punishment of up to 10 years or a fine of Rs 7 lakhAlso read Maharashtra Tanker drivers stop work to protest new law on hitandrun casesA policeman was injured when a group of motorists attacked him near NRI police station in Nerul in Navi Mumbai When police personnel reached the spot and tried to speak to truckers about the new law some of them became violent forcing us to use force to bring the situation under control a police official saidHe said protesters hurled stones at police personnel and used wooden sticks to attack themAt least 40 truck drivers were detained the official said adding that six persons involved in beating up the policeman have been identifiedIn Kalamboli area also in Navi Mumbai at least 400 people gathered on the MumbaiBengaluru highway and staged a rasta roko for the withdrawal of the new provision in the penal law in the afternoon police saidSimilar agitations were also held on the UranNhava Sheva Road in Raigad district on the border of MumbaiIn Mira Bhayandar suburb of Thane district seven truckers have been detained and the process to register a case is underway he addedMeanwhile an association of petrol pump dealers in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city in Marathwada region said fuel pumps in the district may go dry by Tuesday if the situation does not normaliseDrivers of tankers that carry fuel from Panewadi in Nashik have called for agitation and have stopped filling fuel Around 900 to 1200 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 told PTISome petrol pumps in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have already stopped functioning he saidOne of the protesting tanker drivers Syed Wajed said As per the new law the hitandrun cases can attract up to 10 years jail term and a fine of Rs 7 lakh We are drivers how can we pay such a big fine amountAmid protests by truckers the Congress on Monday demanded that the Centre withdraw the provision on hitandrun cases in the new penal lawThis provision is unjust and harsh on motorists Truck drivers car drivers and even twowheeler riders are afraid to drive because of this provision Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole told reporters in MumbaiHe alleged that 146 MPs from the Opposition camp were suspended from Parliament in the recent session to clear this oppressive black lawThe Congress will support truck drivers protesting against the new provision under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita he saidIn Nagpur district hundreds of protesters blocked the NagpurBhandara Road by staging protests in Khapri Warud Kalamna and Pardi areas officials said The agitations were held under the aegis of an organisation supported by Shiv Sena UBTA Shiv Sena UBT leader said the legal provision was brought in hastily and without holding discussions with transporters organisationsThe punishment is very harsh in the new law It should be stayed he added With inputs from PTI