The 48-hour statewide cease-work by drivers in Assam against the new hit-and-run law was “temporarily” called off on Friday evening but not before it left the transport sector severely disrupted, hitting all walks of life in the state and beyond.

Representatives of the motor transport workers’ unions and transport department told The Telegraph following back-to-back huddles involving both sides throughout the day that normal transport service would resume from 5am on Saturday.

“We are resuming service from Saturday morning since we have been assured that the new law will not be implemented. It is a temporary withdrawal (of our protest). We will keep a close watch,” R. Ahmed, convener of the joint forum of transport workers that had called the cease-work from 5am on Friday.

Biren Sharma of the All India Road Transport Workers Federation and S. Islam of the All Assam Drivers Association corroborated him, with Islam adding that they would resume their protest after Bihu if the government did not fulfil promises.

The new hit-and-run law could see a driver involved in a fatal road mishap face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 7 lakh if he/she flees the scene without informing the police/ administration.

Islam, who has been driving his own truck since 2012, told The Telegraph that it was better to work in the field than pay Rs 7 lakh as a fine and spend 10 years in jail if convicted in a hit-and-run case, a sentiment shared by drivers and workers representatives.

“I am from Barpeta but I have been stuck with my truck in Numaligarh for the past four days. I am not driving out of fear, as to what will be the consequences if I am involved in a fatal mishap. It is better to till my land than drive if the law is not withdrawn,” Islam said.

The unions had placed two demands before the state government on Friday. “Hit-and-run penal section in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita need to be made null and void and the Rs seven lakh rupee fine be made null and void,” an official said.

Impact

The solidarity of drivers and other transport workers disrupted truck, bus, cab, and auto services in the state, affecting schools and tourists in places such as Guwahati and even neighbouring Shillong.

There are more than three lakh commercial vehicle drivers in the state.

At several places, groups of drivers and other workers along with leaders or members of unions representing them were seen stopping commercial vehicles and asking them to return since the fight was for the entire driver community. At several places, tyres were burnt in the middle of roads as a sign of protest.

In Guwahati, school vans and buses along with app-based cabs mostly remained off the road in solidarity.

The Shillong-based Iaitylli Tourist Owners’ and Drivers’ Association, which has over 1,000 cabs, also extended support to the 48-hour protest, affecting the inter-city movement of tourists.

An Imphal-based transporter said there was no loading of trucks in Guwahati, the commercial hub of the Northeast, because of the cease-work.

There was a rise in fish prices because of less supply and restaurants, eateries had less footfall than usual while hospital appointments for out-of-town and city patients went for a toss, reflecting the cascading impact the first day of the protest had on all walks of life, so much so that the administration held back-to-back meetings to ensure the strike was called off for now.

Talks

The government conveyed to the motor workers unions that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaced the IPC, has “not” been enforced.

“Union Home Secretary has assured in a video statement that all stakeholders’ opinion shall be considered in formulation of hit-and-run related section in future. Also, the fine portion is not prescribed in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” an official said.

Following the assurance, all shramik (workers) unions and drivers associations curtailed the strike to 24 hours from 48 hours, the official said.

Transport minister Parmal Suklabaidya told The Telegraph that the government tried to convince the unions to withdraw the strike since the law had not been implemented yet and that their grievances would be conveyed to the Centre.

Suklabaidya had toured all the 126 constituencies in the state between November and December to spread awareness about road mishaps. Last year, Assam saw 6,001 road mishaps between January and October, resulting in 2,606 deaths.