BMTC conductor forces college students off bus, parent vent ire

BENGALURU: Ever since the implementation of the Shakti free travel scheme for women, there have been increasing cases of BMTC bus conductors allegedly abusing passengers, especially school students. Parents are also venting their ire over the arrogant behaviour of some conductors.

In a recent incident, a conductor of a BMTC bus allegedly forced a college student to get off the bus without issuing him a ticket. The parents of the college student have filed a complaint with the police and are demanding that action be taken against the erring conductor.

The complainant Pramila, elaborating on the episode, said that sometime between 8.30 am and 8.45 am last Saturday, she put her two daughters on a BMTC bus (route no-248) from the Magadi Road bus station. Her elder daughter got down for work at Dasarahalli and her younger daughter, who is studying at a private college in Vijayanagar, continued her journey.

Pramila said the the conductor Ramaswamy did not give her younger daughter a ticket saying that the bus had crossed her stop. When she questioned him, the conductor got angry and used abusive language. He threatened the girl and told the driver to take the bus to the police station. Scared, the college student got off at Sumanahalli, leaving behind her lunch box in the bus, and immediately called her mother.

Pralila filed a complaint online and also lodged a complaint with the manager of the BMTC Depot-35 at Seegehalli. When the parents went there to inquire, they were told that conductor Ramaswamy had gone home and asked them to come on Monday.

When Pramila complained to the Seegehalli depot manager, he called Ramaswamy and told him not repeat such behaviour. Later, the conductors and drivers at the depot started to attack them for complaining. When Pramila and her elder daughter started to videograph the happenings, the BMTC staff tried to confiscate their mobile phones, the mother-daughter duo alleged.

A complaint was filed against the conductor Ramaswamy at Tavarekere police station on Tuesday, and the police have registered an NCR (Non-Cognizable Report).