The Hajipur police in Hoshiarpur have registered a case against two individuals accused of illegally collecting “tax” from tipper and tractor-trolley drivers by posing as mining officials. The accused have been identified as Ravinder Singh and Harpreet Singh.
Balraj Singh, President of the Tipper Union Owners (Hajipur and Mukerian), stated that two individuals traveling in a Brezza car used to set up checkpoints on the Mukerian Paper Mill-Talwara road and the Hajipur-Dasuya road.
Collection slips issued under the name ‘Chauhan Taxi’
Posing as mining officials, these individuals would stop drivers transporting mining materials, intimidate them, and allegedly extort between ₹1,000 and ₹2,000 per vehicle. They also issued collection slips under the name ‘Chauhan Taxi’.
Accused apprehended along with the Brezza car
The Tipper Union lodged a written complaint regarding this matter with the SDO (Mining), Mukerian, on the 29th. Following the complaint, a team from the Mining Department—comprising SDO Harjinder Pal Singh, JE Nitish, and Hardeep Singh—apprehended the accused along with their Brezza car late last Wednesday night, with the assistance of tipper drivers who had been harassed by the extortion.
Case registered against both accused
Subsequently, the accused were handed over to the Hajipur police for further legal action. The police registered a case against both individuals on the 30th.
Online payment receipts also seized
Station House Officer (SHO) Harprem Singh stated that the accused have been taken into police remand, and further action will be determined based on the ongoing investigation. The police have also seized the Brezza car used in the alleged extortion and the online payment receipts issued under the name ‘Chauhan Taxi’.