Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh : Nurpur Tractor Owners Warn of Massive ‘Chakka Jam’ Over Rising Challans, Give 15-Day Ultimatum to Police
Tension is mounting in parts of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district as hundreds of tractor owners in Nurpur and nearby areas have issued a strong warning against what they describe as “unprecedented harassment” by the local police.
Tension is mounting in parts of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district as hundreds of tractor owners in Nurpur and nearby areas have issued a strong warning against what they describe as “unprecedented harassment” by the local police.
Owners of tractor-trailers from Nurpur, Indora, Fatehpur and Jawali gathered outside the Superintendent of Police’s office on Thursday, voicing frustration over the sudden spike in challans and the seizure of their vehicles. For many of them, these tractors are not just machines — they are their only source of income.
Former MLA Rakesh Pathania addressed the gathering and gave a 15-day ultimatum to the district police. He demanded an immediate halt to what he termed excessive penalties under the Mining Act and the alleged mistreatment of tractor owners. If their demands are not met, he warned that nearly 1,000 tractor-trailers would take to the highways in protest, leading to a massive “chakka jam.”
“Livelihood at Stake”
According to Pathania, many unemployed youths in the Nurpur, Fatehpur, Indora and Jawali subdivisions of Kangra district had invested their savings — and in many cases, taken loans — to purchase tractors. With limited job opportunities, transporting sand, gravel and stone from local streams has become their primary means of survival.
“These young men waited for jobs that never came. When nothing materialised, they borrowed money to buy tractors and started working hard to support their families,” Pathania said while speaking to the media.
The tractor owners allege that frequent challans, vehicle seizures and heavy penalties have left them under severe financial strain. Some even claimed that tyres were deflated during enforcement drives, further escalating tensions between the police and transporters.
Sangharsh Samiti Formed
To intensify their movement, the protestors have formed a Sangharsh Samiti to decide the future course of action. The committee, led by Gulbant Singh, includes representatives from all four subdivisions under the Nurpur police district.
The Samiti has also echoed the 15-day ultimatum, stating that if the situation does not improve, 1,000 tractors will roll onto the highways in protest — a move that could significantly disrupt traffic and daily life in the region.
Growing Unrest
The issue has sparked a larger debate about employment, enforcement practices, and the balance between regulation and livelihood. While authorities maintain that actions are being taken under the Mining Act to curb illegal mining, affected tractor owners insist that genuine workers are being unfairly targeted.
For now, all eyes are on the next two weeks. If talks fail, Nurpur could witness one of the biggest tractor-led protests in recent years.
