Three arrested for operating illegal toll plazas in Jamshoro

The gang was illegally charging vehicles on Thana Bula Khan and Thana Ahmed Khan roads

HYDERABAD: A gang operating illegal toll plazas in Jamshoro district was busted and booked in an FIR on Thursday. The police arrested three persons who were operating as many toll plazas on Thana Bula Khan and Thana Ahmed Khan roads along the M9 motorway.

Jamshoro Deputy Commissioner (SC) Captain (retd) Fariduddin Mustafa told The Express Tribune that action was taken against the suspects after several complaints were received from local residents. "They were charging Rs10 to Rs20 from every vehicle travelling on these roads," the DC said, adding that the illegal toll tax was being collected for at least last three months.

Requesting anonymity, an official claimed that the arrested men were connected with the ruling party in Sindh. "This illegal tax collection was being carried out in collusion with the local authorities and the police," he maintained.



The official pointed out that the FIR contained only Section 420 of the Pakistan Penal Code, contending that it is unlikely to entail a conviction. "However, the welcome aspect is that the motorists who were being defrauded with toll tax will no longer have to pay," he said.

Stone crushers

The DC also said that action against illegally operating stone crushing plants was being carried out in the district, where over a hundred plants on the Kirthar Mountain Range are involved in the business. They supply crushed stones for the construction and irrigation sectors in most parts of Sindh.

On Thursday, three more plants were asked to shut down. The crackdown began on December 10 when 14 crushers in Manjhand taluka were closed. Under the law, the plants are required to obtain no objection certificates (NOCs) and permits from the district administration and mines and minerals, wildlife, environment and labour departments among others.



The DC directed all the closed plants to submit NOCs to his office within three days. "None of the owners have submitted all NOCs as of yet," he said, adding that more plants will be closed in the coming days if their owners failed to provide the NOCs.

The DC also said that he was also investigating complaints regarding the theft of coal from mines in Jamshoro.