Surat : Drivers’ Fury on hit-and-run law Sparks Chaos and Assault

Surat : The simmering tensions over the new hit-and-run law erupted into a fiery storm in Surat today as protesting drivers clashed with police and wreaked havoc on the city’s streets. The diamond city, usually bustling with commerce, witnessed a day of chaos and violence as hundreds of angry drivers took to the streets, their fury directed at both the controversial law and the city buses it deemed responsible for alleged unfair targeting.

The mayhem unfolded on the busy Surat-Dumas airport road, where a mob of drivers surrounded and assaulted a policeman trying to disperse them.

The officer, stationed at the Dumas police station, sustained minor injuries in the attack. “They came at us like a storm,” he shared, his voice still shaking. “Shouting slogans, throwing stones…it was pure madness.”

The drivers’ anger wasn’t limited to verbal barbs. Turning their frustration into flames, they damaged a city bus, its windows shattering under a hail of rocks. The act of vandalism wasn’t just symbolic; it disrupted public transportation, leaving commuters stranded in the middle of the road as the mob blocked traffic for over an hour.

The new hit-and-run law, implemented by the Central government, has drawn fierce criticism from drivers across the country. Critics argue that its stringent provisions, including harsh penalties including 10 years imprisonment and Rs 7 lakh penalty for accidents, unfairly target drivers and ignore the complexities of road conditions. In Surat, the resentment has been particularly strong, with drivers facing mounting pressure to meet strict compliance standards.

“This law is strangling us,” roared one driver, his face contorted with anger. “We have families to feed, targets to meet. How can we drive with a noose around our necks?”

The police, caught in the crossfire of public anger and legal mandates, are scrambling to restore order. Senior officials have confirmed that a case has been registered against the attackers, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

But the underlying tension remains palpable. The drivers’ protest, though temporarily subdued, has exposed the deep divisions and simmering discontent surrounding the new law.