Dismissed Contract Driver Climbs 200-Foot Mobile Tower in Six-Hour Protest Demanding Reinstatement

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-09-09 07:36:00

A tense high-voltage drama gripped Aligarh on Tuesday as a dismissed contract driver scaled a towering 200-foot structure to stage a desperate, high-stakes protest. Raju Saini, a former transport department contract worker who was terminated from service in November 2024, climbed the massive tower at around 10:30 a.m., demanding immediate reinstatement and a comprehensive salary hike. Armed with banners from his organization, the Driver Janata Party (DJP)—which prominently featured images of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister—Saini threatened drastic measures if his ultimatums were ignored. The protracted protest left district police, fire department personnel, and transport officials on tenterhooks for nearly six and a half hours, creating a massive public spectacle.

Administrative Stand-Off: Police, Fire Services, and Senior Officials Rush to the Scene

As news of the dangerous stunt spread, local law enforcement and emergency response teams rushed to the location to manage the escalating crisis. Anticipating a worst-case scenario, the fire department deployed safety nets and large inflatable mattresses directly beneath the tower, while administrative officials established a secure perimeter. Assistant City Magistrate (ACM) II Paritosh Mishra and Circle Officer (CO) Sarvam Singh personally spearheaded the negotiations, attempting to reason with Saini. The disgruntled driver remained defiant, demanding the immediate presence of senior transport authorities and refusing to climb down until concrete assurances were provided regarding his job security and alleged departmental harassment.

Breakthrough Negotiations and Heated Exchanges With Transport Management

The deadlock finally began to loosen around 4:00 p.m. after sustained persuasion by CO Sarvam Singh, who arranged a direct telephonic and in-person dialogue between Saini and the Regional Manager (RM) of the Transport Corporation, Satyendra Kumar Verma. The conversation sparked heated exchanges as Saini aired his grievances regarding alleged assault and harassment by departmental superiors. Following exhaustive negotiations and assurances that his grievances would be reviewed according to institutional protocol, Saini ultimately relented and climbed down at approximately 5:00 p.m., after which police immediately escorted him to the local station for questioning and security processing.

Departmental Response: Authorities Cite Indiscipline, Social Media Threats, and Refusal to Attend Committees

Shedding light on the administrative background of the dispute, Regional Manager Satyendra Kumar Verma provided a contrasting perspective on the driver's termination. According to department records, Saini had previously appealed for reinstatement before the District Magistrate of Aligarh on December 1, 2025. Although he was formally directed to present his case before a grievance committee on December 29, he allegedly failed to appear. Furthermore, transport officials accused Saini of habitual gross indiscipline, claiming he routinely used abusive language against senior officers, posted intimidating videos threatening suicide on social media platforms, and openly maligned government and departmental policies.

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