A conductor and driver of a North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) bus were assaulted by a group of commuters at Balekundri village in Belagavi taluk after the conductor requested passengers to speak in Kannada while issuing tickets.
A video of the incident, recorded by one of the commuters, has gone viral. The footage shows the conductor and driver being verbally abused and physically attacked.
Conductor Mahadev Hukkeri recounted the incident to reporters, stating that a young boy and girl had boarded the CBT-Sulebhavi bus at the Central Bus Terminal (CBT) in Belagavi. While issuing tickets, the girl spoke in Marathi, but Hukkeri did not understand the language, so he requested that she speak in Kannada. This reportedly angered the boy accompanying her, who began threatening the conductor.
By the time the bus reached Balekundri, a mob of over 20 people stormed the vehicle, while others blocked its path. Hukkeri suffered serious injuries in the attack.
Bus driver Khatal Momin also stated that the mob abused and assaulted both him and Hukkeri over the language dispute.