Traders of Dhanbad in Jharkhand have written to the Bengal DGP, protesting against the “unwarranted and unnecessary” holding up of hard coke-loaded vehicles in police stations that causes financial loss and harassment.

The letter written on Tuesday and sent to DGP Bengal Manoj Malaviya through a speed post by the president of the Industries and Commerce Association, Dhanbad, B.N. Singh, informs: “For the last few months our association has been receiving complaints and information that the vehicles loaded with hard coke from their plant are intercepted on regular basis by the concerned police stations of Bengal and despite the vehicles having all valid and legal documents including GST papers, e-way bills etc, they are held up for many hours and days causing unnecessary impediment to the transportation of hard coke.”

According to the letter, there are around 70 hard coke industries existing in Dhanbad and its outskirts. These industries are manufacturing hard coke from raw coal which is validly and legally purchased from valid and legal sources including PSU giant Coal India Limited subsidiaries like BCCL, CCL and ECL etc under valid documents.

“Our members are required to have all valid and legal documents for running their plants and as per the information received to our office, they all have necessary required documents to run their plants. Many of our members have commercial linkages with various parties and purchasers of Bengal who purchase hard coke coal,” the letter states.

“We as an association do not deny the fact that police have power to intercept vehicles, but the said power is to be exercised on reasonable suspicion. We do have an objection to a situation where the suspicion shown by police becomes unreasonable. The vehicles loaded with hard coke coals from manufacturing units are reported to have been repeatedly held up and allowed to go after verification.

“We as law-abiding citizens, do expect an intervention from your good self to ensure that no unwarranted and unreasonable harassment is made to our members by the local police,” the letter requests.