Several highways in Gujarat see traffic jams as truckers protest against new hit-and-run law

Ahmedabad: Several state and national highways are currently experiencing severe traffic jams as truck and bus drivers, along with other transport workers, are protesting against hit-and-run punishments in the newly passed penal law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Protests have erupted across the country in response to the recently passed law. In various locations in Gujarat, truck drivers have burned their tires, while in other places, they raised their arms in unity, chanting slogans like “Truck Unity Zindabad” (Long live Truck Unity).

In Bharuch, a traffic halt was observed during the early hours of today near Ankleshwar on National Highway No. 48, where truck drivers blocked the entire road, causing a traffic jam of about 2 to 4 kilometers.

In Surat, the Mumbai National Highway was blocked near Kamrej by truckers protesting. As soon as the news came out, a team of NHAI and local police reached the location to clear up the traffic.

In Mehsana district, a significant number of truck drivers joined the strike, particularly opposing the hit-and-run law. At the Vrundavan Chokdi of Kheralu, Ambaji, Visnagar, and Shidpur intersections, long lines of vehicles were stuck in the jam as the truckers staged protests by burning truck tires on the road. The protest attracted a large police presence to manage the situation.

In Kheda, a huge traffic jam occurred on the Ahmedabad-Kheda highway near Kanera village, causing a standstill of traffic. Later, heavy police presence facilitated the movement.

In Gir Somnath district, a substantial number of vehicles were observed on the Veraval and Kodinar highway near Prachi, a village in Sutrapada. Here, too, a significant number of truck drivers participated in the protest, rallying for truck unity.

In Valsad, truck drivers protested at two different places by blocking National Highway-56 at Kakarkunwa village in Dharampur and GIDC road in Vapi. Anant Patel, Congress MLA from Wasda, also joined in this.

The protests have not only caused traffic issues but have also affected farmers in Rajkot. After a record-breaking production of chili in Rajkot Market yard, the protests by the truckers have led to the closure of auctions and sales, resulting in a fall in the price of chili by around 800 rupees, causing distress for farmers.

In Surat, BRTS and CT bus drivers have also joined the strike to express their dissent against the new accident law. More than 1000 buses will remain inactive in the city for three days, causing significant inconvenience to commuters. The drivers plan to submit a complaint to the collector after the three-day strike, emphasizing their demand for the withdrawal of the hit-and-run accident law. In Ahmedabad, around 40 drivers of AMTS did not come to their jobs.

What are the provisions of hit-and-run in the new law?

Under the newly introduced provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita regarding hit-and-run cases, individuals accused of causing a fatal crash and fleeing the accident site without reporting it to authorities will now be subjected to a 10-year jail term and a fine. The new penal law comprises two categories. The first involves “causing death by negligence,” where anyone causing death through reckless behavior not constituting culpable homicide could face a maximum prison sentence of five years along with a fine.

In the second category, individuals who escape after causing death through careless or reckless driving, which doesn’t amount to culpable homicide, and fail to report the incident to a police officer or magistrate, may face a fine and up to ten years in jail.

Currently, in hit-and-run cases, the accused are prosecuted under Section 304A, which carries a maximum jail sentence of two years after identification. DeshGujarat