Bhopal: Truck Drivers Create Ruckus Over New Hit-&-Run Provisions, Force Passengers Out Of Autorickshaws (WATCH)

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Transporters created ruckus in Bhopal on Monday morning as they demanded withdrawal of new provisions under hit-and-run cases, increasing imprisonment to 10 years and fine to Rs 7 lakh for the convicted drivers.

The members of Transporter Unions gathered at several parts of the city, like Lal Ghati, Peer Gate, and Hamidia Road, and waylaid the red buses and autorickshaws. They even stopped autorickshaws and cabs midway and forced the passengers out of the vehicles, insisting they must walk to their destination.

The old city's Bhopal Talkies area was also impacted. Similarly, no auto was seen outside Bhopal Railway Station.

As per reports, a group of protestors beat two auto drivers carrying passengers at Gandhi Nagar.

After much pressure, the taxi union extended support to the transporters' strike. Nafis Uddin, president of the Bhopal taxi union, called the new penal law a "kaala kanoon" (black law). Criticising Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said, "No driver ever aims to kill people on the road. Till his last breath, they try to save the passengers and other vehicles. The government must withdraw the new provisions."

Notably, on Sunday there was overcrowding at Jabalpur's filling stations due to a shortage of gas and diesel at the pumps. The truck drivers' walkout against the new hit-and-run rule is the reason for the shortage of fuel at the petrol station.

People were standing in long lines at gas stations throughout Jabalpur, stretching several metres in front of their cars. It's clear from the images emerging from the fueling station that things are spiralling out of control.

Information indicates that Shahpura Bhitoni Petroleum Plant was not supplying petrol or diesel today, which resulted in a lack of fuel at the city's petrol stations.