Bengaluru bus conductor suspended for assaulting female passenger

The woman lodged a complaint against the conductor at Siddapur police station.

A Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus conductor was suspended on Tuesday after a shocking video of him assaulting a woman passenger was posted online.

The incident reportedly happened earlier in the day. According to reports, a woman traveling from Bilkali to Shivaji Nagar got into an argument with the conductor over her ticket. In the video, the woman is seen shouting in Hindi: “How dare you hit me!” while other passengers try to calm the conductor. However, the situation escalated and the conductor became violent, with the woman slapping the conductor. The conductor retaliated by punching her several times. The woman later reported the attack to Siddapur police.

See the video here:

Slap-Kalesh b/wa woman and conductor inside BMTC bus Bangalore KA
pic.twitter.com/xBWlAxwsO3

— Gharke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) March 27, 2024

The woman lodged a complaint against the conductor at Siddapur police station. In response to the incident, BMTC announced the suspension of the conductor.

“According to the above social media message, conductor Mr. Honnappa Nagapa Agasal has been reserved for disciplinary action and ‘suspended’ with immediate effect.” BMTC’s Read the official release.

“The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has prioritized the safety of women passengers. The company has taken measures such as providing separate seats for women in buses, separate doors, installation of panic buttons, CCTV, installation of information boards, installation of information boards on major buses, Women’s restrooms and help hotlines have been set up at stations,” the notice read. “We have taken necessary steps to ensure that women passengers feel safe while traveling on company buses.”

The Bengaluru Transport Corporation, committed to ensuring the safety and comfort of women on board, has required “gender sensitivity training” for its entire 27,000-strong driving force.

“Our company prioritizes the safety of women and we will take strict disciplinary action against those who engage in any form of violence, rude behavior and adverse incidents against female passengers.”