Rush at gas pumps as truckers protest against a new hit-and-run law

Numerous states, including Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, have seen protests

New Delhi: Over the past few days, lengthy lines have been seen at fuel stations in a number of states. No, we’re not in a hurry to fill up our tanks before the price increases. Fearing that the truckers’ protest against the soon-to-be-implemented penal code may affect supply, many are shopping in fear. Should the demonstration continue, it might also affect the supply of other necessities.

Truckers’ Reasons for Protesting

Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are among the states where protests have broken out against the heavy punishments for hit-and-run incidents in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which is replacing the Indian Penal Code from the colonial era.

The new law imposes a ₹7 lakh fine and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for hit-and-run incidents. In the event of an accident, truckers, cab drivers, and other commercial vehicle operators wonder how they would afford such a hefty charge. The new regulation, according to Happy Sidhu, head of the All Punjab Truck Operators’ Union, is a “black law” that will ruin Punjab’s trucking industry.

Attacking Supply Chains in Protest

Protesters include thousands of tanker drivers who deliver fuel to gas pumps. Since they joined the strike, a gasoline crisis has already spread to a number of cities, and additional urban areas worry that things may get worse soon. According to an association of Aurangabad gas pump merchants, the district’s gasoline pumps would run out of fuel by Tuesday.

The association’s secretary, Aqeel Abbas, told news agency PTI that “drivers of tankers that carry fuel from Panewadi (in Nashik) have called for agitation and have stopped filling fuel.” The tourism industry in Himachal Pradesh has already been impacted by the strike. According to local media reports, travelers are having trouble locating cars since taxi drivers have joined the walkout against the new regulation.

The Maharashtra school bus owners’ association president, Anil Garg, stated the buses would continue to run till their diesel ran out. “If diesel supply stops, school buses will stop too.”

Demonstrations from Pune to Patna

In Patna, truck drivers protested the new regulation by burning tires and blocking highways, asking who would provide for their families if they spent ten years behind bars. Early this morning, a policeman was attacked by a bunch of truckers in Navi Mumbai. According to PTI, the police had to use force to break up the crowd on the Mumbai-Bengaluru route.

Protesters in Thane obstructed the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway and pelted law enforcement with stones. A police car sustained damage, and a policeman sustained injuries. Private bus and truck drivers stopped the Pitampur highway near Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, and Bhopal both witnessed protests.

What The Protesters Have To Say

Gyansingh Yadav, a cab driver in Bhopal, broke down in explaining their reason for protesting. “Those who work as taxi drivers, like me, still return home at night. However, it is common for truck drivers to miss up to fifteen days of family time. We have nothing against the government or the law, but I believe there should be some changes, particularly in regards to the penalties imposed on drivers. Under the new law, irresponsible drivers face a 10-year prison sentence. I think it should be cut down to one or two years,” he said to the news agency ANI.

“We are poor people,” a bus driver in Raipur remarked. It is appropriate to prosecute the owners of our cars. This legislation treats us unfairly. We’re going to stay on strike until our demands are fulfilled.”

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“We are drivers, how can we pay such a huge fine?” asked truck driver Syed Wajed in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

What is the law and what has changed?

The statute covers hit-and-run incidents and reckless driving deaths as cases of negligence causing death. Within the Sanhita Bharatiya Nyaya. After passing Parliament, the bill now has the President’s assent and two clauses under Section 104. “Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine,” according to the first section.

“Whoever causes death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide and escapes from the scene of incident or fails to report the incident to a Police officer or Magistrate soon after the incident, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description of a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine,” the second sentence reads.

At the moment, hit-and-run accidents are covered by IPC Section 304A. “Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both,” according to the statute.