The Birpara Truck Owners’ Association in Alipurduar district today alleged that police have been regularly collecting Rs 125 for each trip from each lorry that carries dolomite from Bhutan to the Birpara Dalgaon railway station.
As they made the allegations, the members of the association today held a demonstration in front of the Birpara police station, demanding that the police return to them the ‘cut money’ they had so far taken from the dolomite-loaded lorries.
Members of the association mainly operate their vehicles in Dooars region only. The association also alleged that the amount is being collected following orders from the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) from 18 June onwards.
“Police have been collecting Rs 125 for a trip of the lorry that carries dolomite from Bhutan. The money is being collected at Dr Saheb Kutti area near the Dalgaon tea estate under the Birpara police station in the district. Police started this collection from 18 June and it is being collected as per the orders from the Alipurduar Superintendent of Police’s office,” claimed Utpal Kumar Roy, the secretary of the Birpara Truck Owners’ Association.
“We demonstrated today to get back our money. If it is not returned, we will organise a statewide movement very soon,” added Mr Roy.
The truck owners’ association has also sent a written complaint on the matter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Inspector General (IG) of Police, North Bengal, the Alipurduar District Magistrate (DM) and the Transport Minister, it is learnt.
Around 500 lorries carry dolomite from Bhutan every day, while one lorry makes three-four trips a day. The lorries carry dolomite from Bhutan to the Dalgaon railway station from where, it is supplied all over India through the railways, it is learnt.
Alipurduar SP Nagendranath Tripathi, however, denied that his office had issued such orders.
“Anyone can complain anything. I am aware of the complaints. We have started checking on the roads by taking the motor vehicles department with us. No one is able to collect money from the lorries there. If any of our police personnel is found collecting money, we will take stern action against that person. There is no question of my office issuing such orders,” Mr Tripathi said.