BONGAIGAON, Dec 26 � Local media of Bongaigaon on Saturday busted an unauthorised syndicate collecting transport taxes illegally from the drivers belonging to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The syndicate named Balaji Private Parking was located at Gerukabari under Manikpur PS in Bongaigaon district. Each truck after crossing Chagolia or Srirampur Inter State check gate had to pay Rs. 1,500 at this syndicate against a receipt. This receipt exempted the drivers from paying illegal taxes on the rest of the way to their destination. Thus the syndicate was running an illegal collection racket since the last three years at the same site unchecked and without caring for the district administration. The drivers from South Indian States took this collection as a Transport Department�s rule. So, they had been paying the amount without any objection. Shiba a truck driver from Andhra Pradesh, told the media, �I do not know either Hindi or English properly to communicate with the local people of the State, so the syndicate asked me to pay Rs 1,500 for checking-free travel up to the destination and I followed them�. Another driver Sankaran from Tamil Nadu said. If we do not pay Rs 1,500 police and Transport, department�s officials harass us and sometimes manhandle us on the highway. Hence we are compelled to pay this illegal tax to the syndicates�, he added.
On the other hand, Jivesh Pandit, the collector of the syndicate Balaji Private Parking, replying to the media, �I take Rs 1,500 said from every truck driver belonging to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to ensure them checking-free travel in the State. Some local people are involved in this syndicate. I get Rs 3,000 as my monthly salary from the syndicate�.
When Bongaigaon District Transport Officer Biren Deuri was asked about the syndicate he expressed his ignorance. He only assured that he would look into the matter after attending the office in the next week days.
