BMTC conductor arrested after viral video shows him assaulting woman aboard bus

According to the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Honnappa Agasar assaulted the woman following a verbal duel over the issuance of a bus ticket.

Bengaluru: A 35-year-old BMTC bus conductor was arrested for assaulting a female passenger on Tuesday, police said.

The bus operator has suspended him and launched an inquiry.

Honnappa Nagappa Agasar, attached to depot number 34 (Kothanur Dinne), was posted on BMTC route 368/6, which plies between Shivajinagar and Bannerghatta National Park.

Around 10 am, an argument broke out between the conductor and a woman passenger named Tanzula, 24. The woman, who’s not from Karnataka, was travelling from Bilekahalli to Shivajinagar. She works at an apparel store on Commercial Street and lives as a paying guest in Bilekahalli.

A video shared by the BMTC shows the two arguing, apparently over the bus ticket.

The passenger slaps the conductor. He retaliates and assaults her multiple times, causing her to fall.

The passenger complained to Siddapura police, and they have booked the conductor under IPC sections dealing with assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.

The woman told the police that despite her requests, the conductor refused to issue her the ticket.

A senior BMTC official said the conductor appeared to have been at fault. “Regardless of how the argument started, he shouldn’t have gone out of control and assaulted her,” the official told DH.

During suspension, the conductor will get a 50% pay cut. The BMTC will also appoint an officer to conduct a domestic inquiry against him. Depending on the findings of the inquiry, the conductor will be punished, which could include curtailment of his increments or termination from service, the officer added.

Stating that it gives high priority to the safety of women passengers, the BMTC said it was taking the necessary steps and imparting gender sensitisation training to its 27,000 driving staff to ensure women felt safe travelling on its buses.

The corporation promised strict disciplinary action against those found guilty of any kind of violence, rude behaviour and untoward incidents against women passengers.