BMTC drivers, conductors say they are unsafe, hold protest

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus drivers and conductors staged a flash protest in the wee hours on Wednesday, against incidents of BMTC staff being robbed.

An unknown man barged into a bus and attempted to rob the driver and the conductor recently. He was caught and thrashed by the driver and the conductor. He went away and returned after some time with his associates, who attacked the driver and the conductor, said the police.

The news about the incident spread and about 25 drivers and conductors gathered at the spot and decided to stage a flash protest at the Kempegowda bus stand at around 4.30 am.

They alleged that the they did not have safety as the BMTC security staff were not discharging their duties properly, which led to robberies and pickpocketing. They also said that they were forced to sleep in the buses as they did not have crew rest room facility.

They managed to catch hold of the man who attempted to rob the BMTC staff and handed him over to the police. It is said that the drivers and conductors did not take out buses till 6 am, but the BMTC higher-ups maintained that the flash protest did not affect services.