Ahmedabad is facing a major disruption due to a strike by auto rickshaw drivers. The strike began at midnight after allegations surfaced that police were harassing drivers. The auto rickshaw union claims that police are abusing their authority and subjecting them to wrongful harassment. This has led to the rickshaws in Ahmedabad coming to a standstill, causing significant inconvenience for daily commuters.
The drivers are protesting against the actions of the police, which they describe as one-sided. They say that while the Motor Vehicle Act should be enforced by traffic police, other police officers are also interfering. The union argues that such actions are mainly targeted at auto rickshaws, while other passenger vehicles like bikes and taxis do not face similar scrutiny.
Due to the strike, many areas in Ahmedabad are experiencing traffic jams. Commuters are struggling to find alternative transportation. The union has warned that if police harassment does not stop immediately, they will continue their strike indefinitely. They have submitted a letter to the police commissioner asking for the harassment to end.
In related news, an incident occurred in Kalol where an auto rickshaw driver attacked a female home guard with acid. This shocking event happened at Chhatral Overbridge. The home guard was performing her duties when she asked the driver to move his rickshaw from a restricted area. Following a heated argument, the driver was taken to the police station but was later released.
Around half an hour later, the driver returned with a bottle of acid and attacked the woman. Fortunately, other police officers quickly responded to the situation, and the injured home guard was taken to a civil hospital in Gandhinagar.
The police have since arrested the driver and are investigating the incident. The home guard is reportedly in stable condition with minor injuries.
This strike and the acid attack highlight the growing tensions between auto rickshaw drivers and law enforcement in Ahmedabad. The auto rickshaw drivers feel that they are being unfairly targeted by the police, which has led to protests and alarming incidents such as the acid attack. The situation remains tense as drivers continue to demand changes in how they are treated by the authorities.