LUDHIANA: Several thousand tucks tempos and other vehicles requisitioned by the state government for the elections have not yet been released nor have the owners of the vehicles been paid their dues.
Kartar Singh Azad general secretary of the All Tempo and Mini Operators Union Punjab said here that several thousand vehicles were requisitioned by the police in the state for the security forces and the candidates.
He said that although the elections were over the police was not releasing the requisitioned vehicles.
A deputation of the union met the Senior Superintendent of police RK. Bedi and sought his intervention. Bedi told them that the security forces were still looking after the candidates who contested the elections. Moreover some of the vehicles were in districts where he could not do anything.
Azad said that vehicle owners were poor men and had procured bans from banks for the vehicles. On an average a vehicle owner was required to pay installment of Rs 7000 per month plus the salary of the driver and his board and lodging expenses.
The union general secretary complained that the state government had fixed Rs 500 as the daily hire charges for the vehicles besides 10 liters of diesel for each vehicle. But they had not been paid any money s0 far. Even the {rivers of the vehicles were forced to buy diesel.
“The union served notice on the government to release their vehicles within seven days failing which they would be forced to surrender their vehicles to the government and goon an indefinite hart.
“The union has sought the immediate release of the vehicles.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 13, 1992
