Girl student alleges harassment by BMTC bus conductor, other passengers over ticket issue

BENGALURU: A girl student has alleged that a BMTC bus conductor refused to issue a free bus ticket to her under the Shakti scheme despite her showing her Aadhaar card. The conductor also allegedly asked her get off mid way and he was joined by two other passengers.

Netizens have expressed outrage over the behaviour of the conductor and the girl’s mother has also lodged a complaint with the police. The incident occurred early today morning and the conductor is said to belong to the Gunjur depot-41.

This girl student, who is studying at a private school in Class 9, was travelling from Domlur to Richmond Circle. She showed her Aadhaar card as soon she boarded the bus and sought zero ticket under the Shakti scheme.

However, the conductor said he would not issue a free ticket as the Aadhaar card was in Hindi and forced her to pay the fare. He took the student’s Aadhaar card and allegedly abused her in front of other passengers in the bus. Meanwhile, two other passengers in the also joined the conductor and harassed the student.

Talking to the media, the student said, “The bus conductor showed my Aadhaar card to all the passengers in the bus after issuing the ticket, which was not necessary. He kept harassing me from  Richmond Circle to Corporation Circle. One woman passenger stood in support of me. Then, I called my mother. The conductor threatened to throw me out of the bus. He was saying I am characterless and have no culture. He also threatened me saying he would post the video on social media. Some other passengers in the bus too were arguing with me, but I was not afraid”.

The mother of the girl student questioned how safe BMTC buses are for women. “If my daughter made a mistake, they could at least try to make her understand what her fault was. There is no need to harass her”.

The student was supposed to get off at Richmond Circle, but the conductor dropped her off at Corporation Circle. After coming to know about it, the mother came to Corporation Circle and took her daughter home.