KKRTC bus set on fire in Maharashtra, services to Maharashtra suspended

BENGALURU: With the Maratha reservation issue flaring up again in Maharashtra, Karnataka has suspended bus services after a KKRTC bus was burnt in the neighbouring state.

A bus belonging to the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation was set on fire near Turori in Umarga taluk of Maharashtra by some unidentified miscreants. The bus, belonging to a depot in Bhalki taluk, was on its way from Bhalki to Pune.

Bus services from Kalaburagi and Bidar to Maharashtra have been suspended.

There were 39 passengers in the bus and the driver and conductor quickly shifted them to safety. Prior to setting the bus on fire, the miscreants had smashed the windows.

Following the incident, a case was registered at the Ummarga police station against more than 10 people following a complaint by KKRTC conductor Anil, corporation MD Rachappa told Public TV in Kalaburagi. About 25 KKRTC buses are parked near the police station and they will be escorted up to the state border after the situation eases, he said. “Further steps will be taken based on video evidence”, he said.

Bus services from Belagavi have been curtailed up to Nippani.

More than 130 buses which run to different parts of Maharashtra from Belagavi were also stopped since 8 am today morning as a precautionary measure. The buses are only plying up to Nippani on the state’s border with Maharashtra.

Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said additional police forces have been deployed in border areas.

In Bengaluru, Home Minister G Parameshwara said the police in the border district of Belagavi and Bidar have already been sensitised about the situation in Maharashtra. “We have already deployed KSRP platoons in sensitive areas. In Belagavi, Black Day is observed every year on November 1 when ministers from Maharashtra come here and make statements. We have been taking steps to stop this and we will do it this year too. If they create trouble within our border, we will take appropriate legal action”.