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Truck drivers ransack offices at Girisola checkpost

BERHAMPUR: The Commercial Tax Office (CTO) and Regional Transport Office of Orissa at the interstate check-post at Girisola on Andhra-Orissa border were ransacked by a group of angry truck drivers and helpers on Monday. They alleged that these offices at the checkgate were extorting money from the truck drivers through their middlemen from nearby village.

It followed a group clash in the area between the villagers of Girisola and the mob of truck drivers and helpers. Eight persons were injured. Berhampur Superintendent of Police Devidutta Singh rushed to the spot with armed policemen to take control of the situation.

According to sources the violence of Monday was related to an incident that had occurred at the Girisola check gate on Sunday night. Three trucks carrying cement allegedly faced the wrath of ‘dalals’ active at the inter-state check post.

The drivers alleged that the miscreants demanded Rs 200 from each driver. When they did not pay it they were allegedly beaten up.

On Monday the members of the Ganjam Phulbani Lorry Workers’ Union convened an emergency meeting in the city. Later, they left for Girisola in a lorry.

They alleged that the offices of the CTO and the RTO were promoting the extortionists at the border check-post as they had nefarious links.

The angry lorry workers ransacked these two offices and destroyed their equipment, including the seals and computers. Suddenly a large group of villagers from Girisola village reached the spot and started attacking the lorry workers. This led to a group clash in which eight persons were injured. The commercial tax and transport officials had fled from the spot in panic. Police could manage to take control of the situation in the evening and makeshift arrangements could be made for the check up of the vehicles entering Orissa through the check post.

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