Jamshedpur : National highways ( NH 33 and NH 32) that connect the city with the rest of the country are slowly but surely becoming a breeding ground for illegal activities like robbery.
Looting of goods-laden trucks and small vehicles has now become a common phenomenon and to policemen�s worry, the frequency of such incidents, too, is on the upswing.
A gang of bike-borne criminals robbed a truck driver after taking hostage the co-driver on Jamshedpur-Chandil road of the NH-33 under Chandil police station area in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district, on early Monday.
The robbers stabbed the co-driver, Ramesh Babu (30). The victim was rushed to the MGM Medical College and Hospital emergency, but sending his deteriorating condition he was referred to the Tata Main Hospital immediately.
The truck driver, Srinivas Rao informed that they were coming from Dehri-on-Sone in Bihar carrying sacks of wheat for Andhra Pradesh. As they were negotiating the stretch between Jamshedpur and Chandil, six youth riding in two bikes followed the truck and started pelting stone them.
He had subsequently drove the truck to a transport office in MGM police station area and after narrating the incident, some transport officials took him and the injured driver to the MGM police station area.
Circle inspector of Chandil police station, Rajiv Singh confirmed about the incident and said that they along with Ramesh Babu is trying to locate the area. The injured co-driver has been admitted to the Tata Main Hospital for treatment.
�Transporters and truck owners are coming up with increasing complaints about looting of their vehicles and assault on the drivers, especially during night hours, the most affected being the NH 33,� a police official stated.
A Guwahati-based trader, requesting anonymity, informed that these robbers use sharp iron contraptions to puncture the tyres of trucks at night and once the vehicle stops, they loot valuables at gun point.
Maintaining that there is a need to increase police vigilance on the highways, the trader rued that even �goonda tax� collection is one aspect that the administration should look at and react accordingly.
