BHUBANESWAR: All Odisha Bus Owners’ Association will observe a 24-hour symbolic strike on Thursday in protest against the illegal arrest of a bus owner in connection with the Athamalik mishap which claimed 19 lives besides injuring 30 others on September 9.
Sources said more than 18,000 buses and passenger carrying vehicles will stay off the roads during the strike across the State. The strike will start from 6 am on Thursday and end at 6 am on Friday.
Owner of Maharaja bus Rishabh Kumar Tripathy was arrested by Angul police on September 23, nearly a fortnight after the bus fell off a bridge near Manitri leading to the tragic accident.
On Monday, the bus owners had met and held a discussion with Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi. He, however, expressed his helplessness stating that the bus owner had been arrested under Sections of the IPC and it should be brought to the notice of the Home Department.
The association warned that they would go on an indefinite bus strike from October 7 if the Government fails to withdraw the case against Tripathy. Truck owners’ association also has extended their support in protest against the arrest.
On the other hand, the Transport Minister has requested the bus owners not to strike citing that the common people will suffer.