WB: Truck drivers protest new laws, block highway against hit-and-run rules

Kolkata: Truck and commercial vehicle drivers staged a protest on Sunday, December 31, blocking National Highway Number 2 near Dankuni toll plaza in West Bengal's Hooghly district for about two hours. The protest was against new laws regarding hit-and-run cases, as per police reports.

Around 10:30 am at Chanditala, they blocked the road by burning tires and parking their vehicles in the middle. As per reports, Senior police officers rushed to persuade the drivers to end the blockade. Eventually, at 12:50 pm, the police cleared the road, allowing vehicle movement to resume.

The protesting drivers also expressed concern about the newly imposed laws. "We've been told the new laws impose a 10-year jail term and a Rs 7 lakh fine for hit-and-run cases," said one of the truck drivers protesting .

The roadblock caused inconvenience but was resolved after police intervention, leading to the resumption of normal traffic flow, reports added.