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The drivers allege that officials unnecessarily harass them on one or the other pretext and sometimes even detain them for one reason or the other. In a brazen violation of norms, the officials at the Qazi Gund toll post are allegedly harassing the drivers and fleeing money from them in open without any fear or regret. If a driver refuses t0 pay the bribe, he is detained at the post for the entire day. Scores of drivers are these days up in arms against the toll post authorities, alleging that they are being taken for a ride for every now and then with corruption touching new heights under the nose of higher officials.
The drivers allege that officials unnecessarily harass them on one or the other pretext and sometimes even detain them for one reason or the other. They said that the government continues to remain in slumber with corrupt officials ruling the roost of the entire scenes at the toll post. The drivers added that they for several times had complained before the concerned authorities but no action was taken against the involved persons- thus making mockery of the claims of the government as it ensures corruption free state. Reports also informed that if a driver refuses to pay bribe to the man deputed at the toll post, that driver is detained along with his commercial vehicle at the toll post for the entire day.
In a brazen violation of norms, the officials at the Qazi Gund toll post are allegedly harassing the drivers and fleeing money from them in open without any fear or regret. If a driver refuses t0 pay the bribe, he is detained at the post for the entire day.
“Who wants to loss customers and make a day without earning. The situation itself is compelling a driver to pay bribe to the person deputed there,” says Ajaz Ahmad, a local. Others seconded his views, saying it is the government which is responsible for such a practise as it has failed to rein in the corrupt men.”The entire system is corrupt. Be it the official machinery or the government. If we all know that the Qazigund toll post has become a den of corruption why government isn’t taking any action or initiating a probe into the allegations. The fact is that we have lost our complete faith in the system.
We have to live as we are living. There is no other choice,” said an elderly Ghulam Nabi Dar. Though the vigilance ordered probe into the allegations of corruption at Qazigund toll post, the verdict continues to remain in limbo with no progress over the case being witnessed by the general masses who continue to bear the brunt of the system which according to them is rotten and pathetic. As every government office is a den of corruption but it is on the roads that people end up paying bribes most often, as everything is loaded in favour of the traffic police, says another local. Others on the highway said few motorists know the legal provisions and others simply want to save the hassle of following up on the case in court.
“A bribe is never demanded directly by the traffic cops; there are hints thrown in and the motorist then has to haggle over the sum,” says Hilal Saqib, a driver. He recalled an incident where a traffic police official asked him to halt after he had unknowingly jumped a signal. “He refused to hand me a challan and simply got into my vehicle, insisting that I drive down to the chowky,” Hilal said. “I was taken aback. He made a few inquiries and asked me where I worked before eventually letting me off with a warning.”
