Mangaluru, (The Hindu): For Mohammed Isaq, the lorry drive from Kasaragod to Mangaluru on Saturday morning was smooth. “There was no checking of documents at the check-post in Kasaragod. Even at Kotekar, there was no checking.”

Standing outside the closed check-post of the Commercial Tax Department at Kotekar on NH 66, Commercial Tax Officer D.M. Somegowda indicated Mr. Isaq to drive ahead and not to produce any documents to him. “We were harassed a lot at the check-posts earlier. I am relieved that it has come to an end,” Mr. Isaq said as he started driving to the city from the checkpost.

Following an order by the State government to close down 21 checkposts from Friday midnight, personnel from the Commercial Tax on Saturday placed the boards indicating closure of the checkposts in Kotekar and Surathkal. While many drivers are passing across the checkpost, some are stopping their vehicles only to be told to move ahead. “There are clear orders to close down and hence we are sending transport vehicles ahead. There is no question of checking documents the transporters are carrying,” said Mr. Somegowda, who is among the personnel standing outside the check-post.

An average of 600 vehicles pass across this check-post daily, he said.

Having closed the operations at check-post in Kotekar, the Commercial Tax personnel on Saturday moved old documents, computers and other material to the district office.