Hans News Service Bhubaneswar

TheOdisha Transport department has initiated action to cancel or suspend the permits of around 400 auto-rickshaws allegedly used to block roads during an ongoing protest by app-based cab drivers and bike riders at Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar, said an official on Thursday. The road blockade and alleged vandalism by unruly protesters disrupted normal traffic in the area for some time in the Master Canteen Square area on Wednesday.

Several government properties, including CRUT/Ama Bus vehicles, were reportedly damaged during the incident. Based on police records, CCTV footage and preliminary examination of seizure lists, authorities identified and seized more than 400 auto-rickshaws allegedly used to obstruct the road. The Transport department said the use of vehicles for such illegal activities amounts to a violation of permit conditions.

Accordingly, proceedings have been initiated under Section 86(1)(b) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for suspension or cancellation of the permits. The Bhubaneswar-I RTO has issued show-cause notices to the registered owners and permit holders of the vehicles concerned. They have been asked to provide details regarding who was in control of the vehicles during the incident and whether they were used with the owners’ permission, direction or knowledge.

The vehicle owners have been directed to submit written explanations along with the required documents within the stipulated deadline and appear before the RTO for a personal hearing. If no response is received within the prescribed period, or if the persons concerned fail to appear, the authorities may take a decision on permit suspension or cancellation based on the available records.

The Transport department clarified that the action against the vehicle permits will not affect any separate criminal or other legal proceedings related to the incident. On Thursday, the Commissionerate Police informed that 113 protesters have so far been arrested and forwarded to court in this case.The Police seized 354 auto-rickshaws involved in the violent protest. Similarly, 60 protesting online cab service drivers have been released on bond of good behaviour. A total of seven cases have been registered in this regard at the Kharavel Nagar Police Station.

The Commissionerate Police again warned that strong action will be taken against anyone taking the law into their hands. Notably, the app-based cab drivers and bike riders in Odisha have been holding protests in Bhubaneswar over several demands for the last couple of days.

However, the protest turned violent on Wednesday after the drivers staged a road blockade at bustling Master Canteen Square by keeping their auto-rickshaws on the road. They clashed with police when the latter tried to clear the blockade by removing the vehicles. The protestors pelted stones at police and damaged some public buses at the spot. The police later resorted to a mild baton charge to bring the situation under control.