PATNA, Aug. 31 -- In view of frequent accidents involving overloaded auto-rickshaws and other three-wheelers on national and state highways, traffic authorities have decided to take strict action against vehicles, their drivers and owners. The move comes after nine people, including eight women, were killed in Shahjahanpur, Patna, when an overcrowded auto-rickshaw was hit by a truck. The victims' families were denied the Rs.4-lakh ex-gratia compensation, as travelling in overcrowded vehicles is illegal and also invalidates insurance claims, ADG (Traffic) Sudhanshu Kumar said on Friday. "Auto-rickshaws are meant for last-mile connectivity, not for long-distance travel on highways. Overcrowding, especially sitting on the driver's seat, causes imbalance and accidents. In such cases, even insurance claims are rejected," the ADG said, adding that parents must not allow their children to travel in overloaded three-wheelers. He warned that vehicle owners and drivers found guilty of overloading would be booked under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which carries a provision of 10 years' imprisonment and fine. The ADG said Patna traffic police would add Section 105 against the driver and owner of the truck seized in the Shahjahanpur accident....