Autorickshaw operators held office-goers to ransom in different parts of the city today,putting up roadblocks at important intersections demanding a rollback of auto LPG gas price hike. The highly unionised three-wheeler operators in the city blocked roads at Kankurgachi,Phulbagan and Hudco crossing in north Kolkata and at Rashbehari crossing in the southern part of the city,police sources said here. The autorickshaw drivers resorted to brickbatting which damaged buses. They also forced passengers to get out of buses. Children on way to schools and elderly people had a harrowing time as they were forced to walk to their destinations or back home. Autorickshaws in the city and outskirts operate on specific routes and operators are often accused by passengers of ill behaviour and of charging fare at will. The roadblocks,which began at around 10 am in the peak office hours,were lifted after intervention by the police. At Phulbagan,Trinamool Congress MLA Paresh Pal forced the autorickshaw operators,who were indulging in rowdyism,to lift the blockade. No one was arrested in connection with the blockades,the police said.
