Passenger assaults BMTC staff in dispute over change

Passenger, assault, BMTC driver, conductor

A passenger assaulted a BMTC bus driver and conductor over getting change for Rs 25 in Jayanagar on July 9.

Though the police arrested 49-year-old Girish K Kulkarni for the assault, they released him immediately.

BMTC bus conductor Siddharam (25) and driver Jayaprakash, in his early 30s, were working on the bus route no 600-F/11. The bus was on its way to Attibele from Banashankari via Jayanagar, the police said.

Kulkarni boarded the bus from Banashankari to Attibele. He paid the conductor Rs 50 for a Rs 25 ticket. Siddharam asked Kulkarni if he had five rupees change so that he could give back Rs 30. At this point, Kulkarni began abusing the conductor and the verbal exchange got physical.

The passenger assaulted Siddharam and exchanged blows with Jayaprakash, who stopped the bus and came to the conductor’s rescue.

Siddharam and Jayaprakash informed their superiors, who filed a case with the Jayanagar police. A probe is going on in the incident.