New ‘hit-and-run’ Law row: Odisha drivers’ outfit warns of agitation from tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: Amid widespread protests across India over the recently enacted ‘hit-and-run’ Law under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangh today warned of a State-wide agitation for an indefinite period demanding immediate withdrawal of the law clamped by the Central Govt.

Truck operators in several states have already launched a three-day stir against the ‘stringent provision’ since Monday. The Mahasangh extended its support and will quit steering from tomorrow.

Previously, there was a provision for imprisonment of two years under Section 304 of the IPC.

“We are opposing the Black Law. We had a meeting yesterday among office-bearers of the associations from 27 other states, wherein it was decided to continue the ‘quit-steering’ stir. Odisha Government has also not met our demand for insurance coverage,” the outfit president Prashant Menduli said.

“Protest will be done peacefully across the State and the outfit will not resort to any kind of unlawful activities. All India transporters association discussed with the Central government yesterday and decided to withdraw their stir. However, drivers will continue the agitation,” Menduli clarified.

Worth mentioning, under provisions envisaged in the new law, hit-and-run cases can result in 10 years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 7 lakh under the BNS. Drivers causing accidents and fleeing from the spot without reporting to authorities concerned will face severe penalties, the new law emphasised.