Protesting harassments done by the police for plying their harvesters on road, owners of harvesters in Itahar, North Dinajpur blocked the National Highway-34 at Kalamatia, Itahar in the district on Thursday.

The demonstration continued from 10 am to 3 PM on Thursday where the owners sought police to stop harassing them and provide them with necessary papers from the end of the Regional Transport Officer in the district for use of such machine.

“The demonstration caused huge traffic congestion on the road. Police immediately reached the spot and tried to remove the blockade while the irate mobs engaged in a scuffle with them. Later, Joint BDO, Itahar, Manabedra Nath Saha along with some officials of the district administration visited the spot and assured the owners to consider their troubles seriously. The blockade was later withdrawn,” said sources.

It is learnt that there are around 100 harvester machines in Itahar block. The machines are usually attached with trailers or tractor. They are used for reaping paddy and wheat from the field and to carry them to their storage.

A tractor, to run on the road needs a certificate of registration from the office of the vehicle’s department. According to the owners, they have visited the office a number of times however; they failed to receive any legal paper against the use of such machines yet and in the absence of papers they are being fined thousand of rupees by the police and the vehicle officers.

Harvester owners, Manjarul Islam and Motiur Rahaman, said, “We had purchased the harvesting machines around four years back. We had already sought necessary papers from the office of Regional Transport officer in the district.

They provide us nothing. Whenever we ride our machines in our neighboring district like Malda and South Dinajpur we always have to bear fines imposed by both, the vehicle officers and the police. We purchased such machines after spending several lakhs.

Now in times of harvesting our crops we are unable to use our machines.” “We demand the administration to issue legal papers to us so that we can move freely on the road and if our demand is not fulfilled we will start another stern movement in the district soon,” they added.

The Joint Block Development Officer, Itahar block, Manabendra Saha said, “We have heard their difficulties. The subject will be immediately brought into the notice of the officials of district administration.”