Bhubaneswar: Normal life has been affected in the entire State as commercial vehicles and buses have remained off the road due to drivers’ protests against new hit-and-run law, under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Drivers in the State under the banner of Odisha Driver Mahasangh have staged dharna in block and district headquarters across the State. All the major bus stands in the State wore a deserted look as drivers are sitting on dharna.
The impact of the agitation was felt in Cuttack Netaji bus terminal, Balasore, Sambalpur, Dhenkanl, Jajpur, Koraput, Berhampur and several other parts.
Goods-carrying vehicles also stop plying on the road.
Drivers’ body said that the strike call has not been imposed on any driver forcefully. It is an open call to all the members of the fraternity for a greater cause.
The Mahasangh has appealed to the drivers to stage dharna peacefully.
“I appeal to all our brothers to stage dharna at block headquarters in a peaceful manner. All our brothers should follow the instructions of their respective block-level leaders. I also request all the driver brothers not to join the dharna in an inebriated condition. If any driver was found driving a vehicle, we should not misbehave with him rather we should apprise him politely,” Mahasangh president Prashant Menduli said in a video message.
The new hit-and-run law, under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, was introduced to curb road accidents and fatalities arising out of them across the country.
The law imposes stricter penalties for hit-and-run cases, with up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 7 lakh.
