AGARTALA, June 12 (TIWN): A group of auto rickshaw drivers blocked the road over the bridge toward Radhanagar adjacent to Stable ground on Sunday morning to protest alleged harassment by police personnel. They alleged being subjected to penalties, assaults and damage to vehicles has become a regular incident by the traffic police as the driver denying paying bribe unnecessarily.

Traffic movement was highly disturbed as the drivers have staged road blockade during the peak hours of Sunday on one of the busiest road.

The traffic cops are charging fines from the operators for violation of Motor Vehicles Act. But, several auto drivers have complained of unnecessary harassment by the cops.

DSP (traffic), however, refuted the allegations and said that they had only been trying to inculcate discipline in rogue auto-operators.

Its auto-rickshaw drivers who create nuisance on the roads. They stop in the middle of the roads to take passengers, sometimes leading to mishaps," he added.

However, it is to be mentioned here that the auto drivers alleged that the traffic police unnecessarily torchers the auto drivers, charged hefty amount of fine, and also damages the vehicles at some point of time.

Getting traffic DSP reached the spot and brought the situation under control and the traffic was allowed to move freely on the road.

It is to be mentioned here that as per the direction the auto drivers are allowed to carry only 3 passengers in the passengers auto but all the direction are least bothered by the drivers.

After so many days of the direction of the HC none of the direction is followed by the CITU backed auto drivers in the Agartala city. It completely shows the negligent attitude of the traffic department and the state government.  Day after day the auto drivers are harassing the passengers with their misrule but no action is taken against them.

Apart they are also found carrying maximum passengers, while the department is in yawning siesta with no necessary steps has been taken till today against the CITU baked auto drivers. Despite High Court direction to carry only 3 passengers at a time, it was noticed that that auto rickshaw drivers were carrying 4 to 5 passengers in the broad day light under the eye of the Traffic police in the streets of Agartala.

It has also been noticed that a section of unruly auto drivers carries maximum passengers and let the extra passengers climb down after reaching near to the police barricades. And later again crossing the barricade the drivers picks those passengers again and ply their auto.