Cards, Drinks & Fear: Lorry Drivers Open Up Following Priyanka Reddy's Death

"In today’s times, everyone is doing everything – people gamble, womanize, drink, and those who want to bear children do nothing but eat their food and sleep in their truck," Rajbeer Singh, who has worked as lorry driver for 20 years, told the Quint.

Days after veterinary doctor Priyanka Reddy was raped and murdered by four men in the outskirts of Hyderabad, a reporter from the Quint spoke to lorry drivers about life on the road, for the accused - Mohammad Arif, Chintakunta Chennakeshavulu, Jollu Shiva and Jollu Naveen - were either lorry drivers or cleaners.

Singh further said people usually drink in the areas where trucks are parked or in some ‘dhabas’. He even admitted to drinking and playing cards at times. “I drink to pass the time but I do not play cards now. I stopped playing after I lost a lot of money many years ago while traveling from Aurangabad in Maharashtra. It was an embarrassing day."

20-year-old Ajay Singh said drivers drink because they feel tired from driving for 10-12 hours straight. They sleep only for 3-4 hours and consuming alcohol eases their work load.

"Not All Drivers Drink and Gamble"

Unlike Singh, Kumar, another driver, said he has never consumed alcohol and questioned the conventional opinion carried by public up on drivers. “Everyone says that drivers are alcoholics, they do not go home to their families and indulge in bad habits. This is wrong, as there might be some people who are like this but how is it fair to typecast all drivers to be bad people.”

However, what actually scares Kumar is when he travels to a new city and comes across locals who abuse and threaten to hit. In deserted areas, trucks do not stop for anyone including policemen.

“May Her Soul Rest in Peace”

Reacting to Priyanka Reddy's rape and murder, all the drivers said the accused must get high degree of punishment. "What has happened with her is truly terrible. May her soul rest in peace and the culprits be punished," a couple of them said.

Today, we hear that the 4 accused have been shot dead by the police at the same spot where Priyanka went through a brutal fate. Her soul will now rest in peace hoping for a safer future for all the Priyankas out there.