Peeved by alleged rampant collections of exorbitant “fines” by Dimapur traffic and home guards personnel along Zakiesatuo Road (Eros lane) and Tragopan junction, hundreds of auto drivers took to lightning protest Saturday causing a massive traffic snarl for more than five hours. Irate drivers said traffic and home guards personnel were collecting Rs.300 to Rs.400 daily as fines from auto drivers on pretext of “checking” throughout the year except Sundays for the last two years.

One of the drivers told Nagaland Post that sometimes they had to bear the brunt of physical assault from uniformed personnel. They disclosed that in Dimapur alone there were 40,000 to 50,000 auto-rickshaws, claiming collection of such exorbitant fines daily amounted to daylight robbery.

According to drivers, they were told that traffic and home guard personnel were following an order from DC’s office and asserted that checking should be conducted by motor vehicle inspector. Protesting drivers dispersed only after traffic officials assured that their grievances would be looked into.

Meanwhile, when Nagaland Post contacted DC Dimapur N. Hushili, she said ticketing of violation of traffic was issued to traffic office and they were authorized to challan erring drivers under Motor Vehicles Act.

Meanwhile, Dimapur police, in pursuance of its earlier order dated October 20, 2011, has once again directed all auto rickshaws in the district to ply only in the specified route permitted during registration of vehicle.

Informing that the order was continuing so as to streamline and manage the traffic congestion in the main town, Dimapur police directed all responsible to strictly abide with the order. Also, informing that checking would continue in and around Dimapur town and violators would be penalised as per the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act.