Police personnel don’t always make the best passengers for BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) thanks to lack of clarity in rules regarding tickets.
On Saturday, it was a woman constable’s turn to threaten a conductor for asking her to buy a ticket. The incident soon escalated with Manjunath V, the conductor, being booked in a non-cognizable case. He said the police beat him, a claim denied by the cops.
Police personnel can travel in BMTC buses for free if they are on duty and in uniform. They have to produce identity cards on request. The circular, however, doesn’t say anything about cops in mufti.
Manjunath was on duty on a bus bearing route number 242 (from Balekundri Circle to Ullal). Police constable Gayatri, in plain clothes, boarded the bus at Infantry Road. She introduced herself as a cop and showed the identity card.
Manjunath informed her that she needs a ticket. “I was only following the rule. But she got into an argument. After a while, she paid Rs 15 for a ticket of Rs 17. When I asked for Rs 2 more, she got offended and asked me to issue the ticket only till Vidhana Soudha. She said she will teach me a lesson,” he said.
When the bus reached Vidhana Soudha, two constables approached the bus. “I explained the rules to them. Then they advised her to take a ticket. She finally bought one. I was worried and requested the public to write about the incident on a paper and sign it. As per the rule, we have to get their opinion when such incidents happen. Gayatri asked the passengers not to sign it and told me that she would show the power of police,” he said. Manjunath dialled 100 for the police control room’s help, fearing that she may file a case. By the time the bus reached Majestic, two constables attached to Upparpet station had turned up.
“But when they learnt that I had called to complain against their own colleague, they took me to the station, beat me and forced me to apologise,” Manjunath said.
Nagaraja of the BMTC Workers’ Union said that many police personnel travel without uniform.
“If we ask for IDs, it hurts their ego and they start questioning us. In other cases, a conductor working on the same route will know that officer. When a new conductor replaces him, a clash erupts again when the police personnel travel in plainclothes. We have requested the police to initiate action against the woman constable. Otherwise, we are going to stage a protest,” he said.
A senior police officer said they had taken complaint from both sides and the woman constable was not aware of the new rules. “We are reporting this to the senior officer to initiate action,” he said.
Ravi D Channannavar, DCP (West division), told DH that following a petition by the BMTC union that the conductor was assaulted at Upparpet station, Chikpet Assistant Commissioner of Police has been directed to investigate the case and submit a report. Disciplinary action will be initiated against whoever found guilty.
Siddappa Balki, vice-president of KSRTC workers’ union, said the BMTC has been helping the police by allowing them with just uniform and ID. “In KSRTC, they get free ride only when they are carrying a warrant or taking an accused from one place to another,” he said.