Taxi operators booked for blocking roads in Dharamsala, Palampur
The police in Dharamsala and Palampur have registered FIRs against taxi operators for “blocking roads and disrupting traffic” during protests against the Automated Testing Station (ATS) on April 6.
The police have taken action on complaints filed by a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus driver and a private bus conductor, who alleged harassment of passengers and obstruction of public movement.
Members of various taxi unions had staged demonstrations at key locations, leading to a “chakka jam” (road blockade) in various parts of Dharamsala and Palampur. The protests were aimed at opposing the functioning of the ATS.
In his complaint, the HRTC driver stated that while traveling from Baijnath to Dharamsala on April 6, his bus was stopped near the Gandhi Chowk where taxi union members had blocked the road. Vehicles were not allowed to pass, resulting in long traffic snarls. The passengers were forced to disembark from the bus and walk towards their destinations, causing them significant hardship.
Similarly, in Palampur, a private bus operator alleged that taxi union members stopped his vehicle and created a ruckus. He alleged that the protesters not only obstructed the bus but also misbehaved with the driver and the conductor and used an abusive language. The bus is reportedly associated with a sitting Member of Parliament.
Kangra Additional SP Bir Bahadur said that the office-bearers and members of taxi unions had been named in the FIRs. The charges pressed in the FIRs included obstructing public servants from performing their duties, disrupting government work and causing inconvenience to the general public.
Meanwhile, Dharamsala MLA Sudhir Sharma slammed the state government for lodging FIRs against taxi operators for participating in protests. “Holding a peaceful protest is the democratic right of every citizen. I urge the government to address concerns related to the ATS instead of taking punitive action against taxi operators,” he added.
