Sunil Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 12: In an unsavoury incident which occurred at Kinnigoli bus stand on Wednesday March 12 morning, president of Kinnigoli regional unit of Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners’ Association assaulted a bus driver.  In retaliation, bus drivers stopped running the buses, and this sudden action put people through unexpected difficulties.

Hasan from Ullanje, who has been appointed as driver of a bus owned by Shimantoor Adijanardhana Travels that plies between Kinnigoli and the city via Kavoor and Maravur, was at the receiving end of the ire of Babe alias Durgaprasad Shetty, as per reports.  Shetty, who owns Aikala Laxmijanardhana Travels, happens to be the president of Kinnigoli regional unit of the district bus owners’ association.

These two buses have been involved with frequent frictions over the issue of timing. Reportedly, Shetty suddenly blocked the entry of Adijanardhana Travels bus when it was entering Kinnigoli bus stand, by moving his motor bike in front.  It is said that Hassan tried to stop the bus immediately, but the vehicle hit the motor bike of Shetty in the process.  Turning angry at this development, Shetty is said to have beaten up Hasan. Hasan complained to the police relating to the incident.

The other bus drivers who witnessed their colleague being humiliated, stopped their buses, and condemned the act. A huge crowd gathered at the bus stand as no buses moved from there. Policemen from Mulky station arrived on the spot and supervised law and order.

In general, the members of the public have been strongly resentful of the autocratic behavior of Shetty. It is said that but for the presence of mind shown by Hasan, his bus would have entered nearby shops, resulting in damages and deaths.

People, who had been waiting for their buses, faced lot of problems because of this sudden turn of events. They were forced to look for other alternatives like cars and auto rickshaws. If the incident had occurred a little earlier, the future of students dependent on buses for travelling to examination centres would have been put to jeopardy, as PU examinations have begun today.

Senior police officials visited Kinnigoli, and conducted a meeting of bus drivers, owners, and public, in the bus stand. The drivers have been demanding for the presence of, and unconditional apology from, Durgaprasad Shetty at the bus stand relating to the incident. As Shetty is not to be sighted anywhere, and his cell phone remains switched off, it is said the policemen have been unable to help ease the situation.