Date:10/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/10/stories/2004071012430500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Attack on conductor triggers protest

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JULY 9. A group of youngsters, said to be students, allegedly beat up a bus conductor, Goverdhan, when he refused to allow them to travel without ticket at Osmania University on Friday.

Enraged over the assault, drivers and conductors of nearly 50 buses of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) resorted to a flash strike, halting their services for two hours on the university road.

They staged a sit-in near the university police station before resuming services following an assurance from the police of initiating stern action against culprits.

Two unidentified youth boarded the Barkatpura bus at RTC hospital bus stop. "When Goverdhan asked them to buy ticket, the latter allegedly refused, saying they would alight at the next stop," the OU Inspector, V.N.V. Satyanarayana, said. When Goverdhan asked the driver not to move the bus until the youth bought tickets, the latter gave up and got down the bus.

The issue surfaced once again when a group of ten youth boarded the bus at the Engineering College and refused to buy ticket.

The two youngsters who earlier had a tiff with the conductor were among the group. They duo told other members that the same conductor forcibly made them alight the bus.

An argument ensued and the group allegedly assaulted Goverdhan in the moving bus and got down at Law College.