KOCHI: Despite the Student Travel Facility Committee (STFC) under the District Collector giving strict instructions to private bus operators to provide travel concessions for students up to the Plus Two level, if they are in uniform, a Class VI student was allegedly brutally attacked by a bus conductor at Aluva.
Aromal, from the SNDP Higher Secondary School at Aluva, was assaulted by conductor Naufal of Nivedya bus when the student asked for the balance amount for his fare. According to a source, when the boy asked for the balance amount, the conductor held the boy's hand and yanked him. "The boy suffered injuries on his hand and was rushed to the hospital," said the source. The boy's father lodged a complaint with the Aluva Police Station against the incident that took place on Wednesday evening. Though the police registered a case as per Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act (Cruelty to Child), they are yet to take the bus crew into custody.
When Express contacted the Aluva police, they said a case has been registered and the investigation is going on. "It has been two days since the case was registered and till date, even after identifying the accused, the Aluva police continues with a lackadaisical approach," the sources alleged.
However, when contacted, District Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla said proper action would be taken based on the investigation. "We will ask the MVD and the police to file a report in this regard and based on this, the issue will be taken before the RTA board. If found guilty, stringent action will be taken," said Safirulla.