An autorickshaw driver attacks another auto defying the strike in Ranchi on Friday. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi, Aug. 8: The diesel auto association went on an indefinite strike from today to protest against the police’s autocratic behaviour.

According to Dinesh Soni, the president of the auto association, the police have been clamping fines for wrong parking though the district administration has failed to build a proper auto terminus in the city. A site has been earmarked for the terminus but the project is yet to kick off.

Association members attacked several autos that defied the strike and broke windows of a city bus, too.

Soni pointed out that they would continue with the strike till the administration and the police assure them safety and promise to end the “extortion”.

However, the superintendent of police (traffic) Dadanjee Sharma told The Telegraph that the diesel auto association wants to blackmail the district administration because an order was recently passed to identify autos without valid route permits.

“There are 500 diesel autos holding valid permits. At least ten times the number of autos ply without authorisation. We are determined to put an end to this malpractice,” he said.

To ensure local transport was not disrupted, trekkers plying on the Ranchi to Ramgarh route have been asked to ply within the city. In addition, buses will also be arranged.

“We are determined to end this blackmail,” Sharma stressed.

Petrol crisis

With the 29th Olympic Games kicking off at Beijing, residents in the state capital, are anticipating a demand-supply problem with regard to petrol.

“The increase in demand in the international market due to the Olympics might put consumers into some inconvenience,” Jharkhand Petroleum Dealers’ Association spokesman Kalika Sah told The Telegraph.

Sah pointed out that temporary disruption in supplies due to local factors, bandhs and panic to stock petrol and diesel adds to the crisis. Over the past month, long queues at all the major petrol outlets have become a common phenomenon.

Indian Oil officials pointed out that while no rationing of petroleum products have been enforced by oil companies, availability of petrol and diesel were being affected due to local problems.

Sah pointed out that there was a countrywide restricted supply of petrol and diesel by the oil companies, which has led to heavy losses due to increase in international prices. “The situation is far worse in other cities, particularly Pune. Even in Dhanbad, several petrol outlets were forced to run dry for two days recently,” Sah clarified.