TRANSPORT STRIKE

Transport strike in Cooch Behar

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 16: A 12-hour Besarkari Paribahan Dharmaghat (non-government transport strike) was held in Cooch Behar today. Normal life in the district was disrupted during the strike. Joutho Sangram Committee (JSC) had called the strike. The JSC is a joint platform of different organisations of vehicle owners and transport workers.

JSC sources said they observed the strike to protest against using of Section 304 CrPC in cases brought against drivers following death in road mishaps.

When asked, a lawyer, Mr Subhas Mandal, said, Section 304 CrPC is a non-bailable Section generally used in murder cases. Under this Section one cannot get released on bail within 90 days.

Yesterday, the NBSTC declared that they would ply additional buses to meet the situation. Today, a few busses of the NBSTC were put on the road in the morning but later those were withdrawn. Private car owners, even doctors had to face problems during the strike today.

The JSC members organised a demonstration at the office of the district magistrate demanding not using of the Section 304 against drivers in road accident cases.