17 booked for extortion, Fazilka truck operators stage protest

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, January 15

Block Samiti vice-chairman Baldev Singh, who is also the patron of the Truck Operators Welfare Society, Fazilka, society president Niranjan Singh and 15 other persons have been booked on the allegation of extortion and threat.

Baldev Singh, a resident of Bakhushah village of Fazilka district, is also considered a close aide of Fazilka Congress MLA Davinder Singh Ghubaya and his father former MP Sher Singh Ghubaya.

A large number of truck operators staged a protest outside the SSP office here against the registration of case against them claiming it to be false.

Arun Dhuria, president, Fazilka-Ladhuka Rice Millers Association, alleged that after disbanding truck unions in the state, Niranjan Singh and others had allegedly constituted truck operators welfare society and started demanding exorbitant fare for transporting rice of the millers to other states.

He said when the millers started seeking trucks from nearby towns at competitive prices, the society members allegedly started demanding additional amount of Rs 3,000 per truck from operators from outside and threatened them. The complainant has alleged that on January 12, Niranjan Singh, Baldev Singh along with their 15 aides allegedly snatched the documents of two trucks belonging to Ashoka Transport Company, Abohar, and demanded Rs 3,000 per truck.

The accused have been booked under Sections 384, 506, 148, 149 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.

A large number of truck operators staged a protest near the SSP office and blocked the Fazilka-Abohar National Highway against the registration of “false” case.

However, Baldev Singh and Niranjan Singh brushed aside the allegations. They claimed that they had been implicated in false case at the behest of a senior Congress office-bearer who tried to gag the voice of the truck operators.

They said the truck operators had already been facing starvation-like situation, thus seeking trucks from outside was uncalled for. They also demanded cancellation of the FIR.

Fazilka SSP Bhupinder Singh said, “The action has been taken as per the law”. He said the Deputy Commissioner would decide the future course of action.