Attari Truck Union to launch agitation today

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 19

The Attari Truck Union has threatened to go on indefinite strike from tomorrow in protest against the alleged highhandedness of traders and a transporter.

The decision was taken at a meeting here today.

The union headed by its president Harinderpal Singh Lalli alleged that traders in connivance with a transporter were trying to sabotage the trade through the Attari-Wagah route. If the situation persisted, he said, it would be detrimental to 18,000 people living at the border and earning their livelihood through the transport business at the Integrated Check Post (ICP).

The union threatened to hold a dharna outside the ICP and a “chakka jam” later, bringing the trade to a standstill. It said transporters, truck drivers, assistants and other businessmen connected with the Attari trade would participate in the agitation. Members of their families would also protest, Lalli said.

Union leaders alleged that a local transporter had connived with traders and captured the entire transport business at the ICP. As a result, other transporters faced losses.

They alleged that the transporter was loading three times the material against the stipulated norms. If district administration did not take a sympathetic view of transporters’ demands, the union would park all 600 trucks on road.