BMTC staff assaults case: Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy urges strict police action

Ramalinga Reddy. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

In response to a recent assault on Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus staff, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has written to Home Minister G. Parameshwara urging strict police action against those attacking BMTC employees.

The Minister highlighted a recent incident in Bellandur where a woman passenger allegedly hit a BMTC driver with her slipper after he reportedly failed to stop the bus at her desired location. An FIR has been registered at the Bellandur Police Station in connection with the case.

“This is deeply shocking, especially since such incidents have occurred repeatedly,” Mr. Reddy said in his letter while adding that despite earlier complaints and directions to the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, including a personal briefing by the BMTC Managing Director, such attacks continue unabated.

In his letter, Mr. Reddy stressed that physical assault and verbal abuse of transport staff, particularly drivers and conductors, are on the rise. “Some miscreants have even attempted life-threatening attacks. There was a previous incident where a staff member was attacked with a knife,” he stated.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting the staff of BMTC and other State-run transport corporations such as KSRTC. He added that while disciplinary action is taken against staff members found guilty of misconduct, taking the law into one’s own hands is unacceptable.

He urged the Home Department to take stringent action against the accused in such cases and develop a permanent solution to prevent further incidents. “Such behaviour cannot be tolerated. Legal protection must be ensured for our employees,” he wrote.

Published - June 15, 2025 03:28 pm IST