Kundapur; Nov 26: Condemning the assault on private bus driver Nityanand by locals in Bhatkal’s Sarpanakatte on Nov, 25, Monday night, drivers of private buses in the taluk went on strike on Nov 26, Tuesday.
APM bus driver Nityananda, aged 34 from Hosanagar was allegedly assaulted near Ganesh Nagar in Kundapur’s Sarpanakatte on Monday night, causing him serious injuries and was admitted in Manipal private hospital.
Inconvenience to Commuters:-
Due to abrupt stoppage of private busses without prior notice on Nov 26, Tuesday, buses from Kundapur to Bhatkal and Brahmavar-Udupi-Mangalore private express buses and local buses to rural areas were not plying. Passengers travelling on these routes had to struggle and put them on lots of inconveniences and government buses have been arranged for the smooth travelling of commuters.
Protest condemning assault on driver:-
It was said that driver of the APM bus plying towards Bhatkal from Kundapur tried to overtake a bike and rammed into it. Infuriated bike rider along with locals allegedly assaulted driver Nityananda, resulting severe injuries on him and he was rushed to Manipal hospital for treatment.
Following the incidents, private bus drivers in Kundapur taluk went on voluntary bandh and shut down their services in places like Kundapur, Bhatkal, Kollur and other places.
Students, office-goers and general public had to face inconveniences as the strike was unannounced and sudden.
All the private bus drivers assembled as early as in the morning at 7.00 am at Shastri circle, continued their protest up to 11.30 am and then proceeded to Kundapur police station in procession handed over their memorandum to district commissioner through assistant circle inspector Jayarama.D.Gowda and demanded an immediate arrest of offenders and appealed to provide enough protection to the poor people like us who are coming into this profession by taking strict action on the people who take law into their hands.
Bus agent Shankar Kharvi, Vijaya, Ramesh along with more than two hundred drivers have participated in the protest.
