Rice mill owners, truck drivers block Khanna-Samrala highway

Tribune News Service

Khanna, December 19

Fed up with the alleged behavior of warehouse officials a number of Rice Mill owners of Khanna area today blocked traffic on Khanna-Samrala road for about two hours with the help of Truck drivers and labourers.

Due to the blockage, the commuters had to face difficulties to reach their destinations. Led by Gurdial Singh Dlali president of the Mill Owners Association the protesters raised slogans against the officials of warehouse.

Gurdial Singh along with others rice mill owners including the BJP leader Rajesh Dali, Commission Agents Association President, Sukhwinder Singh Cheema gave information that there are about 58 rice mills in Khanna area and daily hundreds of trucks ferry rice to godowns from different mills.

Mill owners also alleged that the warehouse officials also ask for bribe. Warehouse officials either ask for 1000 rupees per truck or they demand for 50 kg rice. Later the police officials reached on the spot and arranged a meeting between the protesters and the warehouse officials.

After the agreement the traffic blockage was lifted and the traffic started functioning normally. Due to this ruckus, long queues of vehicles were witnessed and the traffic was diverted through other routes.

The students of AS College Khanna were worst hit as they have to go through other routs to pass through blockage site. Gurdial Singh said that it is matter of sorrow to block traffic as the commuters mainly students had to suffer due to today’s protest.

He further stated that if in near future they are harassed again then they would be forced to gherao warehouse godowns at village Rahon and they will not block traffic again for this purpose.

When Manager of warehouse Jang Singh was contacted he refuted the allegations of any type bribe and said that he had nothing to do with this allegation.