Karnataka transport minister condemns attack on KSRTC conductor in Belagavi, calls for action

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has strongly condemned the recent attack on a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus conductor near Balekundri in Belagavi. Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha on Saturday, he confirmed that a complaint had been filed and an arrest had been made in connection with the incident.

However, he stated that he had not yet received information about a POCSO case being registered against the conductor. The minister also announced his intention to appeal to the Home Minister for the deportation of those involved in the attack as per reports. Reddy further remarked on the historical tensions in Belagavi, pointing out that the city was previously not even allowed to hoist the Kannada flag on its municipal building.

“The demand for Belagavi to join Maharashtra has been ongoing for years, but it is futile. At least now, they should learn Kannada, the administrative language here, along with their mother tongue,” he said. He urged all political parties to set aside differences when it comes to issues of land, water, and language. The incident occurred when two girls boarded a KSRTC bus from CBT to Sulabhai and requested two zero-fare tickets. When conductor Mahadev checked with two accompanying boys near Balekundri, he asked if they also had zero-fare tickets. Upon their response in Marathi, Mahadev reportedly told them to speak in Kannada, stating that he did not understand Marathi. This led to an altercation, during which two or three individuals joined the group and physically assaulted the conductor. Following public outrage, police registered a complaint and arrested one of the attackers, who was sent to Hindalaga Jail. However, Reddy dismissed reports that the conductor had been booked under the POCSO Act, calling it a false and baseless allegation.

“Attacking a government employee is an illegal act. A complaint has been filed only because action was taken against the perpetrators. I will speak to the Home Minister and the Director General of Police to ensure justice,” he stated. Responding to the incident in Kolhapur, where a KSRTC bus was stopped and flagged, Reddy condemned retaliatory acts in Karnataka, such as blackening a Maharashtra bus in Chitradurga. “We should not resort to such actions. There is no point in stopping or painting buses,” he said, adding that law and order had improved under the current government compared to the BJP’s tenure. Reddy also criticised moral policing by right-wing groups like Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. “Thousands of government buses operate daily.

This was one unfortunate incident. The morale of transport staff is declining because of inaction by the police,” he added. Addressing political aspirations, Reddy dismissed speculation about his interest in party leadership roles.