In a disturbing turn of events, a police officer was attacked and chased away by protesting truck drivers in Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai on Monday. The drivers were expressing their dissent against the new hit-and-run legislation recently introduced in the country.
Incident Details
The incident unfolded on the JNPT road as police personnel attempted to clear a road blockade established by the protesting truck drivers. A video capturing the altercation reveals a group of men armed with sticks attacking the policeman and pelting stones at him. The officer is seen running for safety, pursued by the agitated mob.
Approximately 40 drivers were taken into custody following the incident, according to Navi Mumbai Circle DCP Vivek Pansare, reports NDTV. He emphasized the need for peaceful demonstrations, stating, “All truck drivers should hold peaceful demonstrations. Strict action will be taken against people who take the law into their hands.”
Arrests and Traffic Disruptions
Over 30 truck drivers were arrested by the Navi Mumbai Police for allegedly attacking four police personnel during the morning protest. The demonstration was in opposition to the stringent penalties outlined in the new hit-and-run legislation, Indian Express reported.
The spontaneous protests, conducted without prior notification to the police, resulted in massive traffic snarls along a two-kilometer stretch on either side of the protest location. DCP Pansare explained that due to New Year bandobast duties, there was limited police staff at the station around 9 am when the truck drivers initiated the protest.
National Scale Protests
The clashes in Navi Mumbai are part of a larger wave of protests by hundreds of truck and commercial vehicle drivers across the country. The dissent stems from the recently enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code. The new legislation imposes severe penalties, including up to 10 years of imprisonment, for drivers causing serious road accidents who flee the scene without informing the authorities.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
