Hyderabad: A woman RTC conductor was critically injured after a dispute with a passenger over change escalated inside a bus in Bhadradri district on Sunday. Police detained the passenger and registered a case following a complaint from the Manuguru depot manager.
According to Ashwapuram CI Ellaiah, passenger Mounika boarded an RTC Palle Velugu bus with her son while travelling from Manuguru to Bhadrachalam. She wanted to get down at Mittagudem in Ashwapuram mandal.
Mounika gave conductor Pravallika a Rs 100 note and asked for a half ticket for her son. An argument then broke out between them over change and gradually intensified.
Pravallika decided to lodge a complaint against the passenger at Ashwapuram police station. At the Mittagudem stop, she stood near the bus door and prevented Mounika from getting down. As the bus moved past the stop, the passenger allegedly pushed the conductor. Pravallika fell from the bus door onto the road. The rear wheels of the bus then ran over Pravallika’s right leg, crushing it. She also suffered serious injuries to her left leg.
Local residents and fellow passengers responded immediately and shifted her in a 108 ambulance to the Bhadrachalam Area Hospital. Ashwapuram police later took Mounika into custody.
Police registered a case based on a complaint lodged by the Manuguru depot manager. CI Ellaiah said an investigation into the incident was underway.
Minister condemns RTC conductor attack
State Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar condemned the attack on Pravallika, an RTC conductor attached to the Manuguru depot. He spoke to RTC MD Nagireddy and obtained details about the incident.
The minister directed officials to register cases against those responsible for attacking an employee on duty. He also asked them to take action in accordance with the law. He instructed senior RTC officials to ensure better medical treatment for Pravallika. He also urged passengers to deal cordially with staff while they are on duty.
The minister said passengers should bring any problems to the attention of officials. He made it clear that violence was not an acceptable way to resolve disputes.
RTC trade union leaders Eduru Venkanna, Thomas Reddy, Kamal Reddy, Naredander, Hanumanthu Mudiraj and VS Rao also strongly condemned the incident. They demanded strict action against those involved in the attack.