|
A group of inter-state bus operators, backed by the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), on Sunday prevented Baripada-bound buses from leaving the Sitaramdera terminus in Jamshedpur.
The move was in protest against the alleged tactics adopted by Baripada Bus Owners’ Association to harass those running the service from Jamshedpur.
Speaking to The Telegraph, BJYM functionary Jitendra Singh said about 40 buses with Jharkhand-issued permits ply between Jamshedpur and Baripada, the district headquarters of Mayurbhanj in Odisha. As many as 47 buses ply on the same route via Rairangpur on permits issued by Odisha, but the Baripada Bus Owners’ Association was arm-twisting those engaged in the business from Jharkhand.
The BJYM leader said the Baripada association detained a bus belonging to a Jharkhand permit-holder two weeks ago on the plea that the service timing was not acceptable.
“When they objected, permit-holder M.K. Singh agreed to change the timings to the association’s convenience, but it neither fixed a new timing nor let the bus operate,” said Singh.
He said when the high-handedness of the Baripada Bus Owners’ Association continued, they informed senior superintendent of police Akhilesh Kumar Jha.
“The SSP spoke to the Mayurbhanj SP and other senior officers in Odisha, but to no avail. Ultimately, we had to come to the rescue of the local bus operator, and stopped all Baripada-bound buses from Jamshedpur today,” the BJYM leader said.
|
