Hard hat petrol pump owners in Ghaziabad have refused to comply with the UP Transport Commissioner’s order to refuse fuel to two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets and four-wheeler drivers without seatbelts.
The Petrol Pump Dealers Association General Secretary Brij Mohan Singhal said, “We had to take a harsh decision not to comply with such an order after a salesman was shot at Banthala petrol pump over a helmet dispute.”
The district administration has given financial aid to the victim and assured police assistance in any emergency. But the association has decided not to comply with such an arbitrary diktat.“No assailant will wait for the arrival of police and no police force can reach instantly on an emergency call,” Singhal said. Although our 90 per cent petrol pumps have installed CCTV cameras but the criminals damage them, especially in rural and semi-rural areas, he said.
“We have apprised the District Magistrate of our decision,” added Singhal.District Magistrate Vimal Kumar Sharma said, “The Transport Commissioner’s order applies to the entire State, so we cannot withdraw it. At best we can only provide security.” Three people on a motorcycle had shot at petrol pump attendant lal Singh, 48, at a gas station in Banthala after he refused to refuel their vehicle as they were not wearing helmets.“A criminal case u/s 307 of IPC has been registered,” said Inspector Gorakh Nath Yadav of loni police station.