Assam: Student Organizations Demand Closure of Sonapur Toll Gate

Guwahati: Student organizations, demands the Nazirakhat Toll Plaza, also known as the Sonapur toll gate to close down immediately for alleged personnel harassment and misbehaviour with the common people.

The AASU, AKRSU, and ATASU were among the student organizations involved in the protest.

One of the protestors claimed that after the toll plaza contract was handed over to a new company following which the personnel at the toll plaza started misbehaving and harassing the people.

Another protestor noted that the Dimoria and Sonapur region used to be rather tranquil, but that since the "toll gate" was established, there has been a fresh controversy virtually every day.

According to the protestors, people are being forced to pay the toll by the employees. They further claimed that toll plaza staff harassed residents in the Sonapur and Dimoria areas who refused to pay the tax.

Some residents claim that the plaza is an "economic burden" on the people of the state and region, given the state's and region's financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 issue.

The student organizations warned the government with large protests and traffic blockades unless the toll gate operators officially apologise for the occurrences. They also requested that the government close the toll gate immediately.

Earlier the Journalist Association of Assam (JAFA) has asked for a toll tax exemption for journalists. Abhideep Choudhury, president of the JAFA, stated in a press statement that all journalists serve society and are underpaid. "Journalists must go from place to place in order to gather information.

However, they are unable to do their duties due to the toll tax. As a result, we urge that journalists be excluded from paying tolls. At the very least, journalists from well-known news organizations should be excused "he added.

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