The Dakshina Kannada Karmika Parishath Bus Naukarara Sangha staged a protest against the assault on a bus driver by a time keeper, by stopping all the City buses plying to Surathkal from Mangalore on Wednesday.

Speaking to Deccan Hearld, Parishath President Ivan D’Souza said that the bus driver was assaulted for a ‘silly reason’ of reaching a particular destination late by two minutes.

Though the incident took place at Rao & Rao Circle on Monday evening, the police failed to register case till Tuesday evening, he said and added that the driver is recuperating in Wenlock Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Dakshina Kannada Karmnika Parishath Bus Naukarara Sangha members took out a protest march to Surathkal police station.

The protestors urged police to initiate action against the time keepers and abolish the system of time keeping. Mr D’Souza said Panambur DySP P Heraje visited the spot and convinced the protestors. With the intervention of DySP, the protest was withdrwan by afternoon.

In the meantime, several commuters from Suratkal, Mukka, Chelyar, Jokatte faced problems owing to the flash strike called by the employees of bus route number 53, 2A, 2C and 45. 

Public who were unaware of the strike were put into trouble as no buses between Suratkal-Katipalla-Krishnapura route plyed till 1.30 pm.

Most of the students who study in the City also faced difficulties in reaching the school on time. However, those commuters travelling between Suratkal-Mangalore on NH 17 did not face hardships, as express buses plied as usual.

In many places, passengers were waiting at Suratkal, Kulai, Baikampady, to board the buses. A case has been registered against the time keeper.