TARN TARAN: The elections have proved a nightmare for the drivers of taxis trucks and mini buses with the district administration busy requisitioning vehicles for election duty.
A number of taxi and truck drivers in Tam Taran Jhabbal Patti and Amritsar complained that the local police had been on a vehicle-snatching spree since February 27. Either the drivers were asked to collect the vehicles from the police station after some days or they were forced to drive according to directions from the authorities. They were not permit ted to even go home and change their clothes for a week or 10days. Large-scale requisitioning of mini buses has affected bus services on the link roads causing inconvenience to the villagers.
Taxi drivers alleged that cars hired for marriages were stopped and the vehicles requisitioned for lection duty while the hapless bridegroom often completed the Journey to the brides house on foot. The drivers also lamented the loss of income especially as this was the marriage season.
They pointed out that although taxis were requisitioned for poll duty last June no payment was made as the elections were not held.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1992
