Youths question pathetic bus service, thrashed

T’puram: High drama unfolded on a

Bengaluru-bound private bus

after two

youths

were allegedly assaulted and thrown out for demanding alternative arrangement after the vehicle broke down near Haripad.

A video of the attack was posted on Facebook by a fellow passenger, who sought help. According to the passenger, Jacob Philip, the assault happened in an alternative bus that was arranged after much furore was raised.

The passengers in the bus of Suresh Kallada Tours and Travels took to Facebook to say that a gang of goons threatened them after the incident. The bus had left Thiruvananthapuram at 10pm, Saturday.

Jacob Philip posted that the bus broke down soon after he boarded it at Haripad around 12 midnight and no alternative arrangements were made for at least three hours. The passengers’ concerns over the safety of the women travellers were ignored by the crew. Haripad police officers, who were informed about the incident, insisted that alternative arrangements be made.

Two youths in the bus called Redbus online ticketing platform, which they had used to book their trip, and representatives of Suresh Kalada Travels but it was of no use. After three hours, another bus was sent. As the alternative bus approached Vyttila around 4.30am, a few men got in and started beating up the two youths. They were then thrown out of the bus and chased away, Philip said.

According to Jacob, the attackers also warned the other passengers that they would face the same plight if they raised their voice against Suresh Kallada Travels. While the bus continued its journey, the two youths who were thrown out were not found. Philip captured the video of the assault and posted it on Facebook. He later updated his FB post, claiming that he was threatened to take the video down failing which he would face legal action. The bus reached Bengaluru on Sunday afternoon.

A Suresh Kallada Travels representative, meanwhile, had a totally different version. He said the youths were under the influence of narcotic substances and assaulted their crew. The bus cleaner was taken to a nearby hospital as he suffered head injuries. When the bus reached Ernakulam, the duo again abused the staff and assaulted them. “It is true that the youths were assaulted as shown in the video. The youths were handed over to the local police. The alternative bus services were provided after two-and-a-half hours,” the representative said.

(With inputs from Bengaluru and Kochi bureaus)