Blocking NH is a punishable offence under IPC: Home Secretary

Singur, Sep 05 (UNI) West Bengal Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty today termed the partial disruption of National Highway 2, owing to the indefinite dharna launched by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, as ''unfortunate''.

''Blocking any of the National Highways is a punishable offence as per the Indian Penal Code,'' he asserted.

Later talking to reporters the Home Secretary averred that the resumption of traffic flow on the highway was ''not satisfactory''.

'' The movement of vehicles has resumed through one of the lanes of the highway. However, the other flank is still blocked and consequently the traffic movement is extremely slow. It is very unfortunate that the vehicles are not being allowed to ply on such a strategic and important highway,'' he stated.

Mr Chakraborty held the meeting here after a meeting with Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra, District Magistrate Neelam Meena and other officials, at a temporary police camp, about two kms from the dharna site, after inspecting the movement of vehicles through one of the flanks of the Durgapur Expressway.

He also discussed the ways and means to solve the difficulties in the movement of trucks laden with essential commodities following the blockade.

He informed that the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) had lodged a complaint with the Singur police station regarding the disruption of NH 2.

He also informed that he would submit a detailed report to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in Kolkata on the situation of the traffic flow on NH two.

Later, the Home Secretary left for the Writers Buildings at Kolkata after conducting the inspection and meeting along with the district administration officials.

However, he did not interact with the agitators at the dharna site.

Earlier, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee claimed that her party supporters had not blocked NH two and said the accusations against her party workers of disrupting traffic movement on the Durgapur Expressway were ''baseless''.

''It is the police administration's responsibility to ensure smooth traffic flow on the road. We have not stopped any vehicles from plying on the road,'' Ms Banerjee retorted.

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