6 members of truckers’ body held under ESMA

Delhi Police arrested six persons, including the president of the All India Motor Transport Congress, under the Essential Services Maintenance Act.

Delhi Police arrested six persons, including the president of the All India Motor Transport Congress (a truckers’ body), under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on Friday.

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Those arrested have been identified as Charan Singh Lohara, president of the truckers’ association, S. Venugopal, secretary, and members Om Prakash Agarwal, Hari Goel, Sunil Atri and R Sukumar.

“They were arrested under the ESMA Act from their office on Aruna Asaf Ali Marg. It is a non-bailable offence and they have been sent to jail,” said Jaspal Singh, DCP (central).

Meanwhile, the Delhi government held a Cabinet meeting to discuss the fallout of the truckers’ and oil sector employees’ strike and reviewed the supply of essential commodities, petrol, diesel and kerosene. Senior officials of Delhi Police and oil companies attended the meeting.

By evening, the oil sector strike was called off and officials expressed confidence that things would return to normal soon.

“The oil sector strike was the main issue of concern. As such the effect of the truckers' strike had been minimal in Delhi. But we have contingency plans in place if this continuous,” said R.K. Verma, Delhi Transport Commissioner.