Extortion from goods carrying vehicles on roads and highways is a regular phenomenon in the transport sector round the year. There are strong allegations that a section of police personnel remain busy at duty time to collect illegal tolls instead of maintaining discipline on the roads and highways. So goods transport in our country has become a highly risky and vulnerable job. It takes endemic form during Eid-ul-Azha forcing cattle traders on the highway to pay. As traders are compelled to pay extra money as carrying cost to meet the demand of extortion, they also become tempted to break the law if and when necessary. Transport owners and workers also became involved in various malpractices. So one kind of disorder prevail throughout the year in road transport sector. But on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha it takes acute shape. This year also is no exception.
Therefore extortion in road transport is a deep rooted problem and expanding its branches day by day. There are law enforcing authority to check this ill-practice and to maintain law and order on roads and highways. But the reality is quite different. For this reason even strict instruction from the highest authorities of police could not make any difference. Of course this situation is not acceptable. To change it political initiative is a must. If local political leaders continue to feel that extortion is a lucrative way to make easy money and there is none to stop them, then attempts to stop total collection will be futile.
