Agitating truck drivers suspend border trade

Bangaon, Nov 2 : Trade with Bangladesh through the Petrapol- Benapol corridor near here in North 24 Parganas was suspended today with truck drivers and operators demonstrating on National Highway 35 (Jessor Road) near the Customs office on the border.

Various unions of drivers and operators were demanding the immediate release of an Indian truck driver who reportedly went missing after entering Bangladesh with his vehicle on October 31.

A senior police officer of Haridaspur (Petrapol border) told UNI that that some Indian drivers and their helpers were involved in a clash with their counterparts at Benapol in Bangladesh yesterday.

''Police at Haridaspur were, however, not aware of any Indian driver missing at that end,'' he said, adding the Indian drivers were allegedly assaulted.

''Union leaders of drivers and operators, meeting at Petrapol, have decided that unless steps are taken to rescue the missing driver the agitation will continue,'' said Bangaon Paribahan Samity vice-president Prabhas Pal.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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