Maharashtra suspends state transport buses to Karnataka after attack on driver

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed the suspension of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC bus services to Karnataka following an attack on a bus and its driver in Chitradurga The suspension will remain in place until the Karnataka government clarifies its stance on the matter PTI reportsAccording to PTI the incident occurred on Friday night when an MSRTC bus travelling from Bengaluru to Mumbai was targeted by proKannada activists in Chitradurga around 910 pm The assailants allegedly blackened the face of driver Bhaskar Jadhav before physically assaulting him A case has been registered with the Karnataka police in connection with the attack PTI statesMinister Sarnaik confirmed the suspension of MSRTC services declaring that unless Karnataka authorities take a clear stand and engage in discussions with Maharashtra bus operations will not resume ldquoBus services to Karnataka wonrsquot be resumed unless the Karnataka government makes its stand clear on the issuerdquo Sarnaik statedMeanwhile on the same day a Karnataka state transport bus conductor was allegedly assaulted near Belagavi for not responding to a girl in Marathi It remains unclear whether the attack on the MSRTC bus in Chitradurga was a retaliatory act PTI reportsBelagavi a border district with a significant Marathispeaking population has long been a point of contention between Maharashtra and Karnataka A section of Marathispeaking residents has demanded the districtrsquos merger with Maharashtra a move strongly opposed by Karnataka and the local Kannadaspeaking populationAs per PTI Sarnaik confirmed that the attacked MSRTC bus MH14 KQ 7714 had just crossed Chitradurga when proKannada activists intercepted and assaulted the driver Karnataka police have since arrested four individuals in connection with the separate incident involving the assault on the conductor in BelagaviAccording to police sources the conductor identified as Mahadevappa Mallappa Hukkeri has also been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act PTI reports that the 51yearold conductor claimed he was assaulted after a girl who boarded the bus with her male friend at Sulebhavi village addressed him in Marathi When he responded that he did not understand Marathi and requested her to speak in Kannada she allegedly abused him demanding that he learn Marathi Soon after a crowd gathered and attacked himldquoWhen I said I donrsquot know Marathi the girl abused me saying I must learn it Suddenly a large number of people gathered and assaulted me on my head and all over my bodyrdquo Hukkeri alleged as per PTI reportsFollowing the attack Hukkeri was admitted to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences Police have confirmed that he suffered minor injuries and is now out of dangerAccording to PTI Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang stated that four individuals had been arrested in connection with the assault on the conductor while three police teams have been deployed to track down other suspects ldquoAll those involved in the incident will be arrested soonrdquo he assuredAdditionally a countercase has been filed against the conductor accusing him of misbehaving with the 14yearold girl ldquoA case was registered on Friday night and no arrests have been made yet under the POCSO Act The investigation is ongoing and we will gather statements from other passengers to determine the truth before taking further actionrdquo a senior police official statedPTI reports that proKannada activists staged protests in Belagavi following the incident blocking the BelagaviBagalkote road and burning effigies Protesters who gathered outside Marihal police station condemning the attack on the conductor and calling the POCSO charges against him false were dispersed by the policeIn response to concerns about escalating tensions Commissioner Marbaniang said the situation must be handled through legal means and called for peace ldquoThe issue can be handled through an investigation There is nothing to be concerned about Peace must be maintained by everyonerdquo he stated as per PTI reportsAuthorities in both states are now closely monitoring developments to prevent further unrest PTI reports