India : Private buses go on flash strike
Hundred-odd private buses operating in the city limits went on a flash strike on Thursday in protest against the alleged assault on a bus driver who was taken into custody by
the police.
Babu, the driver of a private stage carrier operating in the Thiruvallom-Pongumoodu stretch, was taken into custody around 7.30 a.m. following an altercation with the policemen at the city bus stand in East Fort over haphazard parking.
According to the bus crew, the driver was asked by the policemen to shift the bus to a secluded place while the commuters were boarding. This led to a verbal duel and the police personnel shifted the bus to the Fort police station on getting a directive from the higher-ups.
The crew alleged that the bus driver was assaulted by the policemen at the station in front of his wife, Mini, who is also a conductor of the same bus. The woman protested against the assault and was forcibly sent off from the station.
Following this, the crew of other buses went on a flash strike. Some of the private buses were parked at East Fort and others at Eenchakkal as part of the protest. Trade unions of the private bus crew took out a march to the police station demanding action against the police personnel.
Solution through talks
According to the Inspector of the Fort police station, the issue was solved through talks. He added that the driver was not drunk. Hundreds of commuters were affected by the flash strike. The services will be restored on Friday.