Silvester D’ Souza/Yahya Hallare
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur/Bhatkal (EP)

Updated

Kundapur/Bhatkal, Nov 26: Drivers of private buses in Kundapur brought their buses to a standstill on Tuesday November 26 protesting against an assault on one of their colleagues.

It is said that APM bus that had started from Bhatkal, at 5.15 pm on Monday, November 25 and driven by Shikaripura Hosanagara resident Nityananda alias Narasimha Murthy collided against a bike at Sarpanakatte, damaging it.

The bus driver and the bike rider had a discussion and decided for an amicable settlement. However the bike rider had informed his friends during the accident and the ones who came to the spot argued with the driver and allegedly assaulted him.

The driver who was seriously injured was rushed to a hospital in Kundapur where the doctors advised shifting him to Manipal hospital. Nithyananda suffered injuries all over his body including his chest, it is learnt.

Following the incident, private buses in Kundapur taluk went on a voluntary bandh and shut down their  services in places like Kundapur, Bhatkal, Kollur and other areas.

The bus drivers then submitted a petition to the deputy commissioner through police sub inspector Jayarama D Gowda urging him to arrest the guilty and take action against them. They warned that their agitation would continue if the culprits are not arrested.

Bus agent Shankera Kharvi who spoke on the occasion said that the drivers who work for minimum wages are being targeted for undue harassment. Though there is provision for legal action for mistakes committed by the drivers, some people take law into their hands. The drivers and conductors face continuous harassment. Very poor people take up such employment and there is no protection for them, he lamented. More than 200 drivers and conductors participated in the protest.

Students, office-goers and general public had to face incovenience as the strike was unannounced. 

Government buses used the situation to their advantage. Four Rajahamsa buses ply from Kundapur to Udupi with minimum ticket fare of Rs 50. Two more red buses were put into service like local buses on usual rates. Bus service except in Gangolli, Kolluru, Siddapura and Kamalashile got badly affected.

Meanwhile, Bhatkal private bus drivers submitted a memorandum to the assistant commissioner of Bhatkal Korma Rau, demanding the arrest of the people who assaulted the driver.

A complaint was filed by the bus conductor against the assaulters, in which he named Vishwanatha Vaman Acharai, Lokesh Naik, Ganesh Naik, Hanunath Naik and others.

A case has been registered at Bhatkal rural police station.