Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 4: Passengers waiting for buses on Bantwal route from Moodbidri were caught unawares on Thursday March 3 morning, as private buses plying on this road suddenly stopped their operations. Bus employees, in protest against an incident in which a bus conductor was beaten up, had stopped working. The said incident had occurred at Puchchemogaru within the limits of Moodbidri police station.

The protesting bus employees demanded immediate action against the guilty. The private bus drivers and conductors, supported by members of certain organizations held protest at Siddakatte. Moodbidri police, as well as police from Bantwal rural and Punjalkatte stations went to the spot in an effort to appease the protestors and convince them to withdraw stir. During the talks, the protestors set deadline of two days for the police to act. On the basis of assurance given by the police to arrest the culprits within two days, the protest was withdrawn.

Zilla panchayat member, Tungappa Bangera, BJP leaders, Jagadish Adhikari and Sulochana G K Bhat, taluk panchayat member, Prabhakar Prabhu, and some other leaders supported the striking bus employees.

It is gathered that two days back, a bus conductor named Yogeesh Poojary was attacked by a four-member gang on frivolous reasons after intercepting the bus at Shantiraj Colony, Puchchemogaru. Driver of the bus, Naveen, had also been threatened at knifepoint. A complaint about the incident was filed in the Moodbidri police station, but no arrests had been made.

Large number of commuters including students and employees struggled to reach their destinations as buses were not plying. Students had to rely on private vehicles to reach examination centres.

It is said that on Tuesday, after he was attacked, the conductor stopped the bus by blowing the whistle. As soon as the bus stopped, a motor bike rider approached the bus and picked up a girl who was in the bus. The attackers too got down and went away, it is said. Exact reason behind this scuffle is not known as yet.

On Tuesday itself, a minor girl student who travels by the bus in question approached Bantwal rural station with the complaint that bus conductor, Yogeesh, had been pestering her for her cellphone number since a year, and that he was sexually harassing her by frequently touching her.