Over 300 truck owners and operators from Murshidabad and Birbhum on Saturday thrashed goons allegedly affiliated to the Trinamul, stoning their SUV and torching three of their motorcycles on NH12 cutting Moregram village in Sagardighi, Murshibabad.

Sources said for the past few days some 12 Trinamul-affiliated youths were demanding cash from vehicle operators crossing Moregram on the excuse that it was on behalf of the police.

A truck owner from Birbhum, from where over 100 owners joined the protest, said they had to reclaim the “vital link” to transport stone chips to construction sites.

A Trinamul leader denied the party’s links with the youths.

Jangipur SP Y. Raghuvanshi said a suo motu case and inquiry had started.