Updates at 4.30pm:
Udupi: Buses Call Off Strike, Start Operations
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 11: In tune with an understanding reached by the Bus Owners Association with the district administration, regional transport officials and the police in their meeting in the morning, the buses have started plying on the roads now.
Even though the strike is said to have been withdrawn with a pre-condition, setting a three-day deadline for the arrest of the other accused, the concerned are tight-lipped on this aspect. The fact that the buses are running again, has come as a great respite for the office goers and other commuters who have been going through a harrowing experience since yesterday.
Udupi: Strike Against Attack on Bus Staff: Five Arrested, Talks On
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri, Kevin Menezes and Shekar Ajekar
Daijiworld Media Network
2.20pm, IST, Aug 11
Udupi, Aug 11: The office bearers of Bus Owners Association held a lengthy meeting with the Udupi district deputy commissioner, regional transport office officials and the district police officials at the office of the deputy commissioner, at 11.30 am today. The district administration is trying hard to put an end to the impasse created by the ongoing bus strike that has paralysed the lives of the people.
In charge Udupi district superintendent of police Nagaraj informed the media, that five people have so far been arrested, in connection with the assault on the bus employees. The arrested persons were identified as Asif Riyaz, Hassan, Altaf, Rajab and Ahmed. He also informed, that the police are on the look out for the others involved with the incident, namely Shamsuddin, Hussain and Mansoor.
The bus driver who was assaulted yesterday said, that Rajab was not involved with the assault but his son was. The police are trying to find him out, as he is said to be employed in the gulf region and is on a holiday now. He is expected to leave tomorrow, they have learnt. The gang that attacked the bus driver and conductor on frivolous grounds, was said to have bee nmore than 20-member strong.
In charge SP Nagaraj also said, that at around 12.45 am the previous night, six people in three motor bikes, came to his house and threatened his family of dire consequences if the arrested persons are not released immediately. The members claimed themselves to be belonging to Karnataka Forum for Dignity, but he was not at home then.
The media was not kept posted of whatever deliberations went on at the said meeting. There is speculation, that by today evening, buses might hit the roads with a pre-condition that all those involved would be arrested within the next three days.
Rajavarma Ballal, president of Canara Bus Owners Association, secretary Sadanand Chatra and City Bus Owners Association president K Suresh Naik represented the aggreieved at the meeting. In charge SP M B Nagaraj, RTO Omkareshwari and DC Hemalata took part as the government representatives.
Meanwhile, buses moving towards Kundapur were stopped at Brahmavar at the advice of the striking employees and the passengers had to abort their journey there. At the same time, buses bound for Udupi from Kundapur, were stopped at Brahmavar. The police helped those who were in emergency situations like the students and officials, to reach their destinations, by accommodating them in government buses, trucks and other private vehicles moving on the road.
To express solidarity with the striking bus employees elsewhere in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, bus operators of Moodbidri, in a sudden move, terminated the trips of their buses in Moodbidri in the morning. The employees of the buses are supporting the demand of their association, that all the culprits who inhumanly beat up a driver and conductor of a bus at Ucchila in Udupi district on Sunday Augut 10, be arrested immediately.
All the buses operating in and around Moodbidri have reached the bus stand and lined up there, awaiting further developments on this front.
Students and office-goers, who had no inkling of the developments, were taken by surprise on reaching Moodbidri, to find that no transport was available for them to travel to their onward destinations. They were found running here and there to find alternative modes of transport to reach their offices and schools.
Many of the schools and colleges too chose to close for the day, in view of the large number of absenetee students and teachers.
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