Driver Claims Officers Demanded Cash Fine, Refused Online Payment Option
Key Points:
- Tempo driver alleges assault during vehicle check near Mango Nature Park
- Drivers sit on Jawaharlal Nagar Road, halting traffic in Jamshedpur
- No official police statement issued; investigation said to be under way
JAMSHEDPUR – Tempo drivers blocked a busy road in the Mango area on Thursday, after a fellow driver alleged that police personnel assaulted him during a routine vehicle check and insisted on cash payment instead of accepting an online fine.
The incident took place near Nature Park on Jawaharlal Nagar Road No. 15. It falls under the jurisdiction of Mango police station. Mango police had been conducting a routine vehicle inspection drive in the area.
Officers stopped the tempo driver and checked his vehicle’s documents. Some of those documents were found to have expired. The driver was accordingly asked to pay a fine.
However, the driver stated that he was prepared to clear the dues through online payment. He alleged that the policemen present at the spot insisted on cash instead. The dispute over this demand then escalated sharply.
The driver alleged that police personnel physically assaulted him during the confrontation. He subsequently informed other tempo drivers about what had happened. A large number of drivers converged at the spot in response.
“We are ready to pay fines, but only through proper, legal channels,” a protesting driver said. “Demanding cash on the spot is simply not acceptable to us.”
Meanwhile, the drivers sat down on the road and staged a demonstration. A long line of vehicles built up on both sides of the stretch. Jamshedpur traffic on that route remained disrupted for a significant period.
On the other hand, senior officers arrived at the scene after receiving information about the road protest. They engaged with the demonstrators and attempted to resolve the standoff. After a prolonged agitation, the protesters eventually dispersed.
Traffic on Jawaharlal Nagar Road was restored after the situation normalized. The East Singhbhum police have not issued any official statement on the allegations of assault or of a cash demand. An inquiry into the matter is reported to be under way, and further action is expected after the investigation is completed.
The Mango area has seen recurring civic tensions in recent months. The fresh incident has renewed concerns about the conduct of personnel during police check operations across the city.
