While the Paradip Port stands second among the country’s Major Ports in terms of cargo handling, an incident of looting of valuables from drivers of the queued-up cargo-laden trucks at the Badapal market here has worried transporters.
According to reports, thousands of trucks carrying iron ore from Keonjhar, Barbil, Joda and other places ply to the Paradip Port every day.
They move slowly in a queue from Balichandrapur to Paradip on NH 5 (A) to unload the cargo in the port’s prohibited area. These trucks move in so slow that they take about four to five days to reach Paradip.
While drivers and helpers face difficulties in getting food and taking bath during the period, attacks by anti socials during night time have added to their woes. Criminals taking advantages of darkness and lack of police patrolling rob off the trucks.
On Tuesday, such an incident occurred near Badapal bridge where around 20 criminals together attacked a few trucks and snatched away belongings, cash and mobiles from truck staffs and even drained out diesel from the trucks. It is very surprising that while theft diesel and petrol are sold openly at Badapal market, no action has been taken by police. Locals have demanded that police investigate the illegal sale of the fuels and conduct regular patrolling on the NH to protect drivers and helpers from being robbed.