NWKRTC bus assault case: Conductor booked under POCSO Act, Kannada activists allege political pressure

Belagavi: The incident of a conductor and driver of a Northwestern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) bus being assaulted took a new turn as the conductor has been booked under provisions of the POCSO Act on Saturday.

Kannada activists condemned the action and accused the police of acting under political pressure.

Conductor Mahadev Hukkeri had been assaulted at Balekundri village in Belagavi taluk on Friday by people who supported a boy and girl when he had asked them to talk in Kannada language as he could not speak the passengers' Marathi language.

Three accused have been arrested for assault late on Friday.

Hukkeri said it was a false complaint against him and thorough investigation will make the facts clear.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike District President Deepak Gudagnatti condemned the police action of booking Hukkeri under POCSO Act and demanded that the case be withdrawn.

He said that police have booked Hukkeri under political pressure and action is needed against the concerned police officials.

He also questioned the silence of elected representatives from the district for being quiet on the issue.

Gudagnatti said, "We are laying siege to the police station demanding withdrawal of POCSO Act case against the conductor."