Truckers on 72- hour strike, allege cop harassment

SNS, Darjeeling, 12 February More than 750 truck drivers called for a 72- hour strike in the Darjeeling Hills to protest against what they described as “ police harassment .” They also demanded the immediate re-opening of National Highway- 55, a government rate chart, the removal of the ‘no-entry’ board from Kurseong and permission to bring bamboos and iron without too many police checks at various points in Darjeeling . 

“ If we don’t get any response before 24 February, we will start an agitation from the next day, ” said the secretary of the Darjeeling Truck Driver’s Association (DTDA), Rajen Chettri. Asked what made them call the strike, Mr Chettri said : “ The police only needs excuses to harass us . We are fined for no serious offence . We also had a talk with the higher authorities, but received no help from them . As our complaints have fallen on deaf ears, we have called for a strike .” 

The Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling, AK Chaturvedi however said that the police have not received any formal complaint yet . “ We will take action once we receive a formal complaint, ” he said . “ In an area of 10 km, we have to go through nine checking points . We have been suffering from this for over a year now . We want our demands to be fulfilled, ” Mr Chettri said . 

The demand for re-opening of the National Highway is not new . NH-55, which connects Darjeeling with Siliguri has been closed after a massive landslide in June 2010 . The road remains closed even after the restoration works have been completed by the Public Works Department (PWD) . 

With the closure of NH55, heavy vehicles ferrying essential commododities from Siliguri to Darjeeling are being forced to use the circuitous route of Mirik and Mungpoo . Earlier the People’s Welfare Socieety of Tindharia had also protested agaainst the closure of NH55 . A truck strike will cause several inconveniences for people from different walks of life .