Truckers gherao RTO, block traffic

BATHINDA: About 100 transporters and truckers, on Saturday, gheraoed Ferozepur regional transport officer (RTO) Avtar Chand Sharma accusing him of collecting money from them in an illegal manner.
The protesting truckers deflated tyres of two cars of the RTO and blocked traffic for about one hour.
They were pacified by Nilabh Kishore, SP (City), Bathinda who reached Bathinda-Goneana road and prevailed upon them to lift the traffic blockade.
In the presence of scores of mediapersons, the truckers alleged that the RTO was harassing them for last two days by putting up nakas and collecting money for overloading of vehicles.
They alleged that those who greased the palm of the RTO were allowed to go but other trucks were being impounded.
Five of these impounded vehicles were sent to the Cantonment police station and five other trucks to Pathrala police post at the instance of the RTO on Friday evening, alleged the truckers.
They further alleged that two of these trucks were released once the owners agreed to give a huge amount to the RTO.
The RTO was sent to the residence of a divisional magistrate under police cover and the SP (city) asked the truckers to reach his office for necessary legal action on their complaint.
At the time of filing the report, both RTO and truck operators were putting their case before the SP. The RTO, when contacted, declined of collecting any money from the truckers in an illegal manner.
He said he was performing his duty of checking the trucks as these were violating the Motor Vehicle Act by loading excess weight than permissible under the Act.