Mudigere, Mar 18 , DHNS : A 38-year-old woman was killed when a KSRTC bus, on duty for Sunday’s byelection to the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency, ran over her in the town on Saturday.

Renukamma was riding pillion on a two-wheeler which her husband, Gurusiddappa, was driving when the bus - which was on its way to the DSBG first grade college to pick up poll personnel - hit the two-wheeler. The woman fell down and came under the wheels of the bus. Gurusiddappa is a college lecturer and is a resident of Hesagal Vidyanagar.

Members of the public, including students, held a protest for two hours soon after the accident and demanded that the election be countermanded, compensation be paid to the next of kin of the deceased and bus driver Suresh be dismissed from service. The said they will not allow the body to be removed from the spot if the KSRTC depot manager does not visit the spot and offer compensation. Police had to intervene to bring the tense situation under control.

Superintendent of Police Shashikumar, DySP Dr Vedamurthy and other officials promised that proper compensation would be paid and requested that the poll process be allowed. When the protestors refused to budge, the body was transported to the hospital under police protection. Finally, an interim relief of Rs 50,000 was paid to the kin of the deceased.