Bengal truckers join nationwide stir, road blockades in Kolkata and Malda

Truck drivers from various states, including West Bengal, are hitting the roads to protest against the recently introduced hit-and-run law by the Centre. The agitation has led to truck strikes in multiple states, with protests gaining traction in Bengal as well. The truck drivers are voicing dissent against the hit-and-run law in the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the criminal code that will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

In Kolkata's Khidirpur, a demonstration unfolded against the central transport policy, resulting in road blockades. Meanwhile, in Malda, truck drivers staged a protest against the Centre's new law, causing road blockades at the Ratua block intersection. Hundreds of drivers participated in the demonstration, causing significant traffic disruptions that required police intervention to restore normalcy.

Similar protests were witnessed on National Highway 34 in Murshidabad at the Palsonda turn, where truck drivers expressed their discontent by blocking the road. The drivers argue that the new transport laws would impose hefty fines and imprisonment, particularly criminalizing them in hit-and-run cases. They emphasize that accidents are often unintentional, and the fear of retaliation from locals prompts them to flee the scene.

Leaders like Firhad Hakeem and Adhir Chaudhary have extended their support to the truck drivers' protest, citing that the implementation of the new law would render them unable to drive and criminalize their actions. The protest reflects widespread concerns among drivers about the potential consequences of the recently enacted legislation.

The new law has raised the penalty in road accident cases to up to 10 years. In the Indian penal code, accidentally killing a person in a road accident had a maximum jail term of 2 years.