Roadways staff, policemen scuffle at PAP Chowk

Rachna Khaira

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 29

Employees of the Punjab Roadways entered into a brawl with the traffic police, accusing policemen of taking bribe from private bus operators. They alleged that the police, in brazen violation of norms, allow stoppage and parking of private buses at the chowk even when many operators lack permit.

The incident occurred at 10 am when Punjab Roadways General Manager Maninder Pal Singh received a complaint from his staff that the traffic police department had challaned 13 government buses for stopping at the PAP chowk. His staff travelling in various buses informed him that although buses were not allowed to stop at PAP chowk, policemen were allowing private bus operators to park their vehicles to get passengers. Following this, Singh sent his team of top officials to assess the situation.

“I went to the site myself and was shocked to see that the policemen were only challaning government buses of Punjab Roadways and PRTC and were letting off private bus operators who do not even have a valid permit of buses,” said Singh. He also claimed that some policemen were found misusing their authority by allowing private bus operators to park their vehicles for longer duration, after receiving a fine of Rs 300 from them.

“It was shocking to see that they had challaned over a dozen government buses till early morning and did not challan any private operator. It was only after my team reached the spot that they began to challan private bus operators as well,” claimed the General Manager. However, ADCP (traffic) Suder Vizhi said she was not aware about the matter but would investigate the complaint and take suitable action.