Cops thrashed truck driver for refusing to pay entry fee, drivers blocked highway in protest.

GNSONLINE RAJOURI
SHYAM SOOD

RAJOURI, NOVEMBER 30:–The drivers of various commercial vehicles on Wednesday blocked the Jammu-Poonch highway for abou t two hours alleging Rajouri police had beaten mercilessly a truck driver who reportedly refused to pay Rs 500 which the police were demanding as an ‘entry fee’.
The sub-inspector, who was heading the police team, skipped from the spot when the victim driver closed the highway with his truck and along with other drivers started raising slogans against the police action and explaining what is ‘entry fee’.
The protest was also joined by the locals and those who were trapped in the jam and witnessed the police-driver episode.
Those travelling on the highway and were trapped in the jam, including Zaheer Khan r/o Manjakot also alleged that the police team was engaged in illegal activities.
An ambulance was also struck in the jam, but was allowed to move by the protesters.
Truck driver, namely Mohd Riaz resident of Mandi in Poonch district continuously narrated his ordeal and said; “I was stopped by the police team and produced all the documents for checking. I was wearing an uniform with a nameplate, & using a seat belt. Even then the police demanded an entry fee & when I refused, the officers directed the cops for challan because, according to him, I attempted to hit him with his truck while I had parked the truck on the roadside”.
Mohd Riaz crying with leg injuries due to police beating continuously asked the police: “Mera kya kasoor hai” (what is my fault) which was also authenticated by the eyewitnesses.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, another police team headed by a sub-inspector reached the spot to pacify the protesters.
The police team pacified the protesters and assured them of the treatment of the injured driver. Later the driver shifted the truck to the roadside allowing the traffic to move smoothly on the highway.
No senior officer reached the spot and even didn’t bother to comment on the action taken against the erring police team.
However, when contacted, SHO Rajouri said that the driver & the helper have been booked under sections 107 (a person abets the doing of a thing), 151 (Whoever knowingly joins or continues in any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace).