Truck driver ‘attacked’, Bathinda oil refinery writes to police: ‘Deep fear in the minds of transporters’ | Chandigarh News

“The incident has caused great fear among transport companies, their employees and truck crews. If nothing is done about this incident, it will encourage members of the truckers’ union to continue to commit such acts of violence with impunity in the future, which will lead to disruption of public order and security,” the refinery said in a letter to police.

The incident took place around 10.30 pm when an open-loaded truck, which had just left the refinery, was allegedly chased and stopped by members of the local truckers’ union. Truck driver Akhilesh Yadav and an employee of Rajesh Kumar transport company, Abhinav Yadav, were allegedly assaulted as the truck had been loaded without the union’s consent.

The refinery told police that Akhilesh suffered a severe head injury after being hit with stones wrapped in cloth, causing extensive bleeding.

“Following the incident, Mr. Rajesh Kumar (the owner of the vehicle) called the refinery’s security control room at 10.35 pm on July 20, 2024. A refinery ambulance responded immediately and took Akhilesh Yadav to the Government Hospital, Talwandi Saboo, where he was admitted for further treatment of his head injury,” said the refinery’s letter to the police, signed by Gurjap Singh Gill, General Manager, Security.

According to the letter, Akhilesh received five or six stitches on his head. “Subsequently, under pressure from the local truck union, the transport operator in charge ensured that Akhilesh Yadav was discharged from the hospital on July 21, 2024. Since then, the transport operator and the driver/munshi have stopped taking calls, apparently out of fear,” the letter said.

The letter also asked the police to investigate the incident and arrest those responsible for the attack on Akhilesh. The police were also asked to ensure the safety of truck crews going to the refinery.

A police official who wished to remain anonymous said the complaint was being investigated.

Rising tensions

Tensions have been simmering between the refinery’s contract transporters and the local truckers’ union for the past month. Recently, 21 transporters had filed a complaint with Bathinda police alleging harassment and threats from people claiming to be members of the local truckers’ union, which is allegedly supported by Aam Aadmi Party MP Baljinder Kaur. The transporters alleged that they had received numerous threatening calls, leading to disruption of their operations and an unsafe working environment.

Local truck drivers led by Gulab Singh had denied these allegations, claiming that they were merely seeking employment opportunities at the refinery and were wrongfully excluded by a consortium of larger transport companies. The refinery’s business was also meant to benefit local drivers, they added.

MP Baljinder Kaur had pointed out the ongoing conflicts between refinery officials and local truck drivers in a social media post and demanded that local drivers should be allowed to continue working.