Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Jun 1: After a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus driver stopped his bus on the road at Melkar near here on national highway 75 in protest against what he termed as partiality on the part of policemen, traffic on the road stood affected for about six hours. This incident occurred on Sunday May 31 afternoon.

The national highway was already choked because of heavy influx of vehicles on Sunday. Because of an auto rickshaw driver who tried to sneak in the space that was by no means enough for his vehicle, KSRTC bus had got stranded in the traffic in the middle of the road. At the same time, people also were getting down and climbing into the bus that had got stuck in the traffic.

Policemen who were controlling the traffic then served notice to the bus driver, in turn earning the wrath of the driver. He argued that he was not at fault. He objected to the attitude of the policemen in issuing notices to government buses, and allowing private buses go Scot free. He stopped the bus on the highway as a measure of protest. The passengers and members of the public at the spot also started arguing with the police personnel, duly taking sides with the bus driver, and holding that he was not at fault.

In meanwhile, a long line of vehicles was formed on the highway, and none of these vehicles could move ahead or go back. After being informed of the incident, Bantwal police circle inspector, K U Belliappa, town police sub-inspector, Nandakumar, rural police sub-inspector, Rakshit, and traffic sub-inspector, Chandrashekharaiah, rushed to the spot, and worked to give some semblance of order to the movement of vehicles.

Sunday being an auspicious day as per Hindu calendar, a number of marriages and other functions had been arranged in all the halls in the region. Vehicles also came in large numbers from the directions of Puttur, Mangaluru, and Konaje, adding to the chaos. The policemen had summoned additional forces after the bus passengers and people began supporting the protest undertaken by bus driver.