Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SHS)
Mangalore, Apr 10: The driver of a private city bus (route number 11 B) that plies from State Bank to Jalligudde was beaten up by a mob Kankanady Railway gate here on Wednesday, April 9 night.
The assaulters who came in a Swift car allegedly waylaid the bus at the railway gate and beat up Iqbal, the driver, accusing him of disclosing his phone number to a girl. The girl reportedly is a relative of one of the assaulters.
Even as the driver was beaten up, the angered group further resorted to breaking the windshield and the window panes of the bus. Circle inspector Hareesh Kumar rushed to the spot, but the attackers had fled by then.
Iqbal was admitted to hospital while the damaged bus was taken into custody by the police at night.
Iqbal claimed that he was unaware of the issue and had not given his number to any girl. "I was jolted by the sudden unexpected attack. Let the assailants produce the girl before me to reveal the truth," he said.
He alleged that circle inspector Hareesh Kumar directed him not to file a complaint, but the next morning on Thursday April 10, the same inspector hit back at him for not filing the complaint.
When daijiworld contacted Hareesh Kumar, he said this was an attack resulting out of personal enmity and that he told the driver to file a complaint. "But he (the driver) did not show any interest in filing the complaint at night. The assaulters waylaid the bus over petty personal issues. Why should the public face inconvenience?" he questioned.
"A complaint was filed on Thursday morning in Kankanady police station and FIR will be registered very soon," he added.
Bus strike
In protest of the attack, private buses plying in State Bank - Jalligudda route came to a halt on Thursday morning. Bus drivers demanded the immediate arrest of the attackers, and threatened to continue their strike till action is taken.
Corporator of the area Vijaya Kumar Shetty arrived at the spot and managed to convince the protestors. The strike was called off after the protestors were assured of quick action in the case.
Hundreds of commuters faced inconvenience due to the sudden disruption of bus services. Many were forced to walk or take other means of transport.
Though bus service resumed to normalcy later, the protestors have given the police a deadline until Friday April 11 to arrest the culprits, failing which they would go on strike again.