Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, May 27: Tension prevailed at Ponnodi near Kaikamba, BC Road here late on Wednesday May 27 evening after the driver of a car was allegedly assaulted by a bus driver and employees of KSRTC.

Azeez, a local, was allegedly assaulted in the incident that took place in front of KSRTC bus depot.

Soon after the assault, a group of young men barged into the depot and not only expressed anger at the officials but even tried to assault them.

It is learnt that Azeez was driving from Kaikamba, when, near KSRTC depot, he decided to turn around and go back to Kaikamba. While he was turning his car near the divider crossing in front of the depot, a KSRTC bus moving along the same way turned left to enter the depot. As their ways got blocked, the drivers of the car and the bus began to argue. The bus driver got out of his vehicle and allegedly abused and assaulted the car driver Azeez. At the same time, a few employees of the KSRTC depot also joined in and allegedly assaulted Azeez.

As soon as the news spread, a group of young men came barging into the depot and lashed out at the officials, besides trying to assault them, it is alleged.

The Bantwal police on receiving information rushed to the spot and chased away the mob and brought the situation under control. Bantwal circle inspector Beliappa, town police inspector Nandakumar, rural police inspector Rakshith Gowda, Vittal police inspector Prakash Devadiga and other personnel arrived at the spot.

As a precautional measure, additional security has been deployed at BC Road bus stand, Shantiangady and Kaikamba.

Meanwhile, Bantwal councillor Mohammed Shareef alleged that a few KSRTC depot employees get drunk every night and misbehave, and invite the wrath of locals. "The KSRTC authorities should take strict action against their employees who behaved so rashly with the car driver," he demanded.