Shiv Sena (UBT) workers attack Karnataka bus driver, smear saffron on his face in Solapur

Vijaypur: Tension between Maharashtra and Karnataka that heightened following a language tussle between North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) bus driver, conductor and Marathi speaking commuters in Belagavi’s Pant Balekundri has now spilled over to Vijaypur-Solapur borders.

On Monday, a mob of 15-20, believed to be party workers of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), way-laid a NWKRTC bus at Sath Road in Solapur and created ruckus. The mob smeared saffron colour on the face of the NWKRTC bus driver after forcing him to alight the bus. They raised pro-Maharashtra and other slogans. The bus was commuting between Solapur and Ilkal.

The bus had 35 passengers. The bus was allowed to complete its trip after the intervention of the Sadar Bazar police station, who brought the situation under control after great struggle.

Bus service between Maharahstra and Belagavi has been halted since Saturday (Feb 22), following the Friday incident in Belagavi, where Marathi speaking commuters assaulted the staff of NWKRTC for asking them to speak in Kannada as conductor Mahadev Hukkeri did not understand their language.