Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Jul 11: In an incident that occurred at Subrahmanya on Saturday July 9, some rickshaw drivers assaulted the driver of a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus, alleging that he did not give way for a rickshaw coming into the bus stand. At the time, the bus, which shuttles between Mangalore and Subrahmanya, was on its way out of the bus stand.

As the bus was negotiating the bend outside the bus stand at around 2.30 pm, an auto rickshaw driver, who was furious at the fact that the bus driver did not provide enough room for his vehicle to enter the bus stand, dragged the driver out, and hit him in his chest and abdomen. Immediately, several rickshaw drivers at the spot came together, and took turns to thrash the driver with their feet and hands, it is said.

When the driver shouted for help, KSRTC personnel came running from the bus stand, but the rickshaw drivers continued to abuse the driver of the bus, identified as Manjunath from Hubli, it is learnt. A police complaint was filed in this regard, in Subrhmanya police station.

The driver, who was dumped on the roadside, was hospitalized. Rickshaw drivers, Rajesh K, Giridhar, Chandrashekhar, Nagesh, and Chidanand, were arrested. The court remanded them to judicial custody. The police are on the look out for other two rickshaw drivers, Dhanu and Venkappa. Investigation is in progress.