Truckers accuse Congmen of collecting ‘goonda tax’

NIkhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 27

The allegations pertaining to Congress leaders and workers charging ‘goonda tax’ from truck operators working with Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Talwandi Sabo have started flying thick and fast.

Some truck operators today alleged that persons associated with transporters swearing allegiance to the Congress had confiscated a truck whose operator refused to give in to their demands.

Jagtar Singh and Harpreet Singh of Ram Sra Enterprises today said they had the contract to supply sand to the refinery.

They accused Guni of enjoying patronage of the Congress leader from Talwandi Sabo, Khushbaaz Singh Jattana, over charging ‘goonda tax’ from the truck operators and those who refused to give in are manhandled.

They said on April 25, one of their drivers, Hakam Singh, was returning from the refinery when Guni and others threatened him and took possession of his truck at gunpoint.

Driver Hakam Singh said when he reached the main gate, workers of Guni stopped him and asked him to cough up Rs 10,000.

“When I refused to pay, they took my truck and drove it away after threatening me of dire consequences,” he said.

Meanwhile, senior member of the management committee of Rama Mandi Truck Operators Union, Ramesh Kumar refuted the allegations and said the union was not pressuring anyone to pay any kind of tax, let alone ‘goonda tax’.

He added that in case the truckers were facing any problem, they should bring it to the attention of the union first rather than raising a hue and cry about it.

While the public relations officer of the refinery, Pankaj Vinayak said the refinery was looking into the matter, SHO Rama Mandi Manoj Kumar also maintained that the police were re-confirming the details.

Jattana refuted all allegations and said no one was allowed to charge ‘goonda tax’ from any transporter.

He added that he had presented details of the entire matter to the district administration and urged the authorities to resolve the issue.