Students block NH 31A protesting monopoly of drivers

EOI, Matelli, 3 April 2014: Alleging monopoly of auto drivers, students of Bagrakot Higher Secondary School today blocked NH31A as a mark of protest. Irked by the drivers’ highhandedness, the students demonstrated at Cinema More in Odlabari the led to disruption in vehicular movement for nearly 30 minutes around 10:15am. Things returned to normalcy only after police reached the spot and took control of the situation.

The students who led the road blockade were reportedly from Toribari area under Mal PS and they had arranged an auto van to ferry them to school. However, some auto drivers from Bagrakot obstructed the van from proceeding ahead of Mina More. As a consequence, 21 students of the eighth, ninth and 10th standards from Bagrakot HS School failed to attend classes for three consecutive days. Angered by the mistreatment of the auto drivers, the students decided to block the road today. They withdrew their agitation only after the police assured them the matter would be looked into in earnest.

Police OC Bhaskar Pradhan said the students relented only after he assured them to resolve the matter by holding talks with the auto drivers from Bagrakot. He added the police have interacted with the auto drivers and the issue is now settled.