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District magistrates were told to dismantle the amerciable postulation points
JAMTARA: Bhaipo (nephew) tax. Danda tax. Bamboo barricades. Illegal nakas. Highway strongmen from alleged “syndicates” equipped with sticks. For decades, drivers of commercialized vehicles entering Bengal from Jharkhand said those words defined borderline crossings much than signboards oregon toll gates.
Trucks slowed. Cash changed hands. Arguments invited threats, smashed rear-view mirrors and punctured tyres. Delays wrecked transportation schedules and ate into earnings. That grind has abruptly eased. Days aft BJP assumed bureau successful Bengal connected May 9, the authorities govt issued a zerotolerance directive against “extortion nakas”. District magistrates were told to dismantle amerciable postulation points and forestall their return.
Truckers said the effect is disposable already.
Key crossings on NH-2 and adjoining authorities roads that erstwhile choked nether bamboo barriers and unauthorised toll booths are present moving freely. Drivers transporting goods betwixt Jharkhand, Bengal, the NorthEast and Bangladesh said harassment has dropped sharply implicit the past fortnight. Nearly 50,000 trucks determination done Bengal each day, making the authorities a captious logistics hub connecting eastbound India, NE and 5 transit points into Bangladesh.
“Two types of unofficial levies were communal successful Bengal — Bhaipo taxation and danda tax,” said Sajal Ghosh, wide caput of the Federation of Truck Operators Association successful Bengal, referring to TMC MP and erstwhile CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee.
“Bhaipo taxation has vanished. We privation danda taxation wiped retired wholly too.” At Rupnarayanpur adjacent Jharkhand’s Mihijam crossing, truckers said postulation present moves without roadside collection.
“It each unopen down aft May 4,” said e-rickshaw operator Tapan Das. Drivers described payments astatine aggregate points crossed Paschim Bardhaman and Purulia districts. “If you refused, they stopped and harassed you for hours till you paid. That has stopped,” motortruck operator Vishal Roy said. Truckers recalled highways lined with bamboo poles and enforcers. “Every fewer kilometres, bamboo barricades blocked the road,” said Ramesh, a operator resting astatine a dhaba adjacent Tulin successful Purulia. “Ask for a receipt, and they crook hostile. Refuse payment, and they smash mirrors oregon puncture tyres.” Perishable goods carriers said delays deed net hard. “Every hr matters for vegetables, food and different perishables, but those syndicates did not attraction if goods spoilt,” said Mohammad Akil Sonu, president of All Jharkhand Driver Trade Union.
