Kochi: A KSRTC driver under suspension driving his own private bus operating in the Munnar-Ernakulam route allegedly assaulted the crew of a KSRTC bus at Adimali bus stand on Tuesday morning following a dispute over running time. According to cops, Bastin P. John, who is under suspension for alleged bad behaviour, and his father owned two buses in the route.
“On Tuesday, he was the driver of the private bus ‘Fathima Matha’ proceeding from Munnar to Ernakulam. The KSRTC bus coming from Payas Nagar too left Munnar towards Ernakulam behind the private bus. The buses vied each other for commuters. However, the KSRTC bus reached the Adimali stand first and this enraged the accused. He soon indulged into a war of words with the KSRTC crew and assaulted the conductor T. K. Nazir,” the police said. The incident happened at 9.30 am. The father of the accused, John too reached the spot and started abusing the KSRTC crew.
The Adimaly police later took both the father-son duo into custody and lodged a case under IPC 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) against them based on a complaint lodged by the KSRTC crew. The KSRTC’s Ernakulam-Payas Nagar through Munnar-Marayur route is one of the few buses in the route enjoying much commuter patronage.
