Students Protest Against Private Bus Operators, Allege Harassment of Girls
 
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwak (PS)
 
Bantwal, Jul 12: Students of various institutions here on Tuesday July 12 went on an intense protest against private bus operators decrying their dominance over the government buses and also accused their employees of indulging in sexual harassment of girls.

The situation turned ugly when a private bus driver almost ran his bus over them.

The students held a rasta roko in Peruvai route of Vittal and stopped a private bus ‘Gurudeva’. After stopping the bus, the students staged a dharna on the road. At that moment another private bus came speeding towards the agitators, almost threatening to run over them. The students became furious with the driver and intensified their protest.
 
Speaking to media persons, student Abdul Azeez said that private buses have not been following the time schedule, and their employees have been disrupting the movement of government buses. He also alleged that the employees are indulging in sexual harassment of girls.
 
It may be recalled that recently a college student, a resident of Yeyyadi set herself ablaze after she was allegedly abused by a private bus staff. Even in Peruvai village of Vittal, a girl student was allegedly harassed by a private bus staff. However, police and transport department officers are yet to take any action.

Later, Vittal SI Rakshith Kumar and staff dispersed the protestors and allowed the buses to move. An appeal with the signatures of public was handed over to Vittal SI. Puttur RTO circle inspector visited the spot and assured to take action.
 
Students and public also expressed their annoyance against a local political leader Prabhakar Shetty who came to the spot and lambasted the agitating students for going against the private buses.

Private bus service is dominating Dakshina Kannada district. Transport minister R Ashok has time and again assured that government bus service would be initiated in the entire district. However, though government bus service in the city limits still remains a dream, due to the struggle of local people in Peruvai village of Bantwal taluk one or two government buses have started plying. But now the private buses have been trying to stop the movement of these two buses also.

Though a complaint was filed with the regional transport commissioner and with transport minister R Ashok, there was no response or any action from the departments.