23 drivers detained in Surat; fuel supply, trade largely ‘unaffected’ in Gujarat

As per the Federation of Gujarat Petroleum Dealers Association, there are over 5,000 petrol and diesel pumps in different parts of the state. “The ongoing strike by truck drivers has not affected the supply of petrol diesel at different pumps. We have not witnessed any incident of such tankers carrying petrol and diesel stopped by anybody across the state. Our tanker drivers did not support the protest,” said Arvind Thakker, the federation’s president.

Surat and Tapi Petrol and Diesel Dealers Association president Suresh Patel said, “There are over 352 petrol pumps in Surat and Tapi district and the supply was not disrupted. A majority of the petrol pump owners have their tankers and they get their tankers filled from distribution centres. We instructed all the petrol pump owners to take caution.”

While state-owned oil firms had topped up tanks at most petrol pumps across the country in anticipation of the protest, some petrol pumps in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab ran out of stock due to heavy rush, as per reports.

Meanwhile, in Surat, violence was witnessed as hundreds of truck drivers came out on the roads and stopped a state-run bus headed to Dumas at Magdalla junction on Tuesday afternoon. Some angry drivers were allegedly involved in a scuffle. Twenty-three drivers were detained over the incident.

An injured police constable had lodged an offence with Dumas police. The incident took place when a police control room mobile patrolling van – while covering Magdalla junction near Dumas at Hazira – found several truck drivers carrying out a chakka jam and stopping the bus. Police constable Suresh Bijal tried to control the situation but was injured in the scuffle that broke out when he tried to stop the protesters.

Dumas police inspector A P Somaiya said, “We controlled the situation after reaching the spot and dispersed the mob. The Magadalla junction is near Magdalla port and the road also leads to Hazira industries. The condition of police constable Sureshbhai is normal.” Police registered offences under IPC sections 143, 147 332, 323, 341, 504, 506 and 114.

In other parts of Gujarat such as Saurashtra, the strike didn’t have any major impact on major trade and industry hubs even as transporters said that transit duration may increase.

In Morbi, the ceramic hub of the country, police officers held a meeting with office bearers of the Morbi District Transport Association as well as representatives of truck drivers and truck owners. “Police officers told us that the proposed law has not come into force yet and that it has to be understood from the right perspective. They also told us that with India being a democratic country, everyone has the right to organise peaceful protests. But they appealed to keep in mind that such protests do not create a law and order situation and do not inconvenience the common man,” Prabhat Dangar, president of Morbi District Transport Association, said.

Agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) such as those in Gondal and Mahuva saw normal trade. “Today, our yard saw arrivals of 66,000 bags (each containing 40 kg of onion) and we managed to auction off all of them. Traders also managed to load all bags on trucks. However, representatives of the local truck association came to us and told us that the delivery time of the consignment might become longer than usual. This may slow down the trade cycle. Therefore, we advised farmers to use their discretion while carting their onion to Mahuva APMC,” Vishal Panchani, secretary of Mahuva APMC, the state’s biggest wholesale market of onion, told The Indian Express.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla late on Tuesday said the decision to invoke the new penal provision related to hit-and-run cases will be taken only after consultation with the All India Motor Transport Congress. He also appealed to the AIMTC and all the agitating drivers to return to work. The protest was called off.

(With PTI)