Truck operators in Tamil Nadu have warned that they would stop operations to Maharashtra if waylaying and murder of their drivers in that State did not stop. While the operators have been voicing concern over this for some time, the threat of strike was issued on Tuesday following the murder of driver Venkatachalam (38) of Namakkal on New Year’s Eve.
“About 20 truck drivers from Tamil Nadu were murdered by highway robbers in Maharashtra in about a year. During the last week, miscreants attacked four drivers from our State and three of them died,” State president of the State Lorry Owners Federation – Tamil Nadu K. Nallathambi told The Hindu .
If the Government of Maharashtra and the police there failed to take action, truckers from Tamil Nadu would soon freeze trips to Maharashtra. A representation in this connection has been made to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, he said.
Mr. Nallathambi said, “Most of these incidents have occurred on the bypass road at Solapur district in that State.”
On December 31, Venkatachalam was stabbed fatally and his money was stolen. On December 29 driver Palanisamy (33) was waylaid and killed in the same area. Mr. Nallathambi alleged that the Maharashtra police were reluctant to register cases and investigate the incidents.
Appealing for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s intervention to ensure the safety of the drivers, quicken investigation of the pending cases and bring the accused to justice, the association also requested the State government to provide financial assistance to the families of the victims.
