Nizamabad: The devotees of Maha Kumbh Mela from southern states complained that police in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and other states forcibly collecting challans and bribes from the travellers on National Highway 44. People in large numbers are going to Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ayodhya and other holy places in north India. By engaging travel buses, mini vans, cars, most of the people visiting there by travelling on National Highway 44, which is connects Kanya Kumari to Srinagar. While travelling, police halted the devotees near toll plazas or other cities’ outskirts and verifying the documents of the vehicles. Driving licences, vehicle registration, insurance, pollution and other certificates verified by the police. If any document is missing or in lapsed condition, police are pressurising the devotees to pay the penalties. Allegedly, few police constables demanding bribes from the Kumbh Mela devotees highlighting the lapses. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Hanumanthu, a devotee from Makloor mandal in Nizamabad district said that they faced tough situation during the travelling to Maha Kumbh Mela. When our vehicle passed Nagpur city, police personnel checked our vehicle and demanded bribe for the lack of pollution certificate copy for the vehicle, he said. ‘We gave Rs 500 to the police constables to move forward on the highway’, he said. ‘We all six youths started from Makloor to Maha Kumbh Mela in our car, but police stopped us for long time at various places’, he lamented. Identifying the vehicle registration number of southern states, few police are harassing the devotees, he alleged. Meanwhile, the travel agents sending the devotees to Prayagraj from Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Banswada, Bodhan and other towns by collecting Rs 4,500 per person. They are providing free breakfast and lunch to the passengers in the buses for four days journey. If other holy places are added to the journey package, they are collecting Rs 5,500 and visiting for one week tour. National Highway 44 from Hyderabad to Kamareddy, Nizamabad, Armoor, Nirmal, Adilabad areas witnessed regular traffic to the Maha Kumbh Mela with saffron flags and other banners. On the other hand, few travellers also moved their vehicles from Sangareddy, Banswada, Madnoor, Bodhan routes to Nanded in Maharashtra to other holy places. The devotees urged the state and central government to look into the matter and cooperate with the Maha Kumbh Mela devotees to save money and time during the tour.
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