West UP truck drivers protest against new hit-and-run law

Drivers across the country have launched a protest against the increase in jail terms in 'hit-and-run' cases under the new Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023. The drivers have claimed that no one causes accidents intentionally and they are forced to flee the spot as the enraged mob threatens to kill them.

They also added that the new provisions would discourage the drivers and put them in fear about their jobs. While explaining the conditions around an accident, the drivers added that a lot of factors are at play and some of them are beyond the driver's control. In case an accident happens due to poor visibility during fog, the drivers will have to “rot in jail without any fault". The protests left the transport system in chaos as many passengers were left stranded at the bus stations in several cities. The drivers participating in the strike include truckers, private bus drivers, and even government bus drivers in some cases. On social media people have claimed that the cab drivers have also joined the protest in some states.