Haryana Roadways Strike Concludes Following Police Action and Negotiations
A six-hour strike by Haryana Roadways (HR) employees in Rohtak concluded on Wednesday after police registered a case against an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and released a driver and conductor on bail. The protest, which began around 10 am, involved a "chakka jam" where employees parked buses across roads to halt operations, causing significant disruptions for commuters.
Root Cause of the Protest
The strike was sparked by alleged one-sided police action following a scuffle between roadways staff and police officers. According to Amit Maharana of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the incident originated around 2:30 pm on Tuesday when a bus traveling from Rohtak to Sirsa nearly collided with a police vehicle. An officer allegedly forced the driver off the bus and assaulted him, with the conductor also being beaten when he attempted to intervene.
Employee Demands and Police Response
Protesters had three key demands:
- Release of Delhi roadways driver Yashpal and conductor Surender.
- Withdrawal of non-bailable charges against the staff members.
- Registration of a formal complaint against ASI Satish for alleged misconduct and assault.
Employees claimed that police initially only registered a case against the roadways staff while ignoring the driver's cross-complaint. Following negotiations with administrative officials, police agreed to the employees' terms by 4:30 pm, leading to the restoration of services.
Impact on Commuters and Resolution
The strike left thousands of commuters stranded, particularly affecting patients and families traveling to PGIMS, Rohtak. The disruption highlighted the reliance on public transport in the region. With the police meeting the protesters' demands, normal bus operations resumed, bringing relief to the affected passengers.
