Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, Mar 28: The vehicular movement was disrupted as about two dozen drivers blocked the Doda-Bhaderwah highway to protest against alleged corruption and high-handedness of police at Bhalla.
The drivers assembled at main market Bhalla on the highway and raised slogans against the police officials. They stopped the traffic by burning tyres and staging protest.
According to the drivers, who mostly ply on the roads falling under the jurisdiction of Police Post Bhalla, alleged that Incharge Police Post along with constables not only use obscene language but also manhandle poor drivers without any fault.
“Incharge Police Post Bhalla along with two constables stopped the minibus and dragged out the driver Ashiq Hussain and without any provocation started abusing the poor fellow and even manhandled him”, alleged an agitating driver and demanded stern action against the erring police officials.
Meanwhile, administration had a tough time to pacify the drivers as nearly 200 vehicles got stranded on both sides of the highway during protest.
Later, SHO Bhaderwah Inspector Jatinder Sambyal along with Naib Tehsildar Bhalla Sanjay Kumar reached the spot and assured the agitating drivers that they will conduct enquiry into the matter and drivers will not be harassed unnecessarily if they follow the rules.
After assurance from the administration, the drivers called off their protest and traffic was restored on the highway.
“Police is just performing its duty to regulate the traffic and making the drivers to follow the rules and traffic norms. The young officer posted at Bhalla is doing a commendable job by trying to implement traffic rules in letter and spirit, which does not go well with habitual offenders”, said SDPO Bhaderwah Brijesh Sharma.
“The said driver was stopped and warned by the police officials on duty for over-speeding and creating chaos on the road. By protesting on the road and making commuters hostage is nothing more than a blackmailing tactics and a ploy to pressurize the police”, the officer added.
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