NWKSRTC bus conductor assault case: Accused to be booked under Goonda Act, says Ramalinga Reddy

Belagavi: Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday said that that the accused who assaulted the NWKRTC conductor on the CBT-Sulebhavi bus will be charged under the Goonda Act.

He said that that the state-owned company has been operating for 65 years without any allegations of sexual harassment and criticised the police for failing to apply common sense when booking a POCSO Act case.

Reddy visited the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences District Hospital to inquire about the health of conductor Mahadev Hukkeri, who was assaulted on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Reddy said Hukkeri was under trauma due to the assault and would need a couple of additional days for hospitalisation.

"Doctors have confirmed his health is stable, and he could be discharged in two days. Hukkeri was worried as police have booked POCSO Act case against him. We too are aware that police have not applied commonsense while booking POCSO Act case," Reddy said.

The Transport minister further said that he would discuss the issue with Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar to have the POCSO case withdrawn. He also stated that the accused would be booked under the Goonda Act.

Reddy noted that the suspension of bus services between the two states has caused significant losses for both KSRTC and MSRTC. "Bus should not be attacked and should not be made part of issues," he said.

He also pointed out that an attack on an MSRTC bus near Chitradurga had led to a retaliatory attack on a KSRTC bus in Maharashtra.

Reddy further mentioned that he would personally speak with the Belagavi Police Commissioner to take action against MES leaders who were making videos to justify the assault on the conductor and circulating them on social media.

He said a petty altercation over language had unnecessarily escalated the situation.