MADURAI: Alleging harassment by higher officials, a driver attached to the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) in Maatuthavanni attempted self immolation and also tried to kill the depot manager by pouring petrol over his body on Sunday.
According to TNSTC sources, the driver Senthil Kumar operates on route number C3 from Maatuthavanni to Teppakulam. On Sunday, he reached Maatuthavanni at 9.30 pm after completing his last trip. Since his duty ended only at 10.30 pm, the depot manager Thayalu Krishnan asked him to do a trip to Tiruchy. When Senthil Kumar refused, the manager asked him to go to Arapalayam instead. Accepting this, Senthil Kumar undertook the additional trip and returned to Maatuthavanni at 10.30 pm.
But Krishnan allegedly asked Senthil Kumar to do one more trip to Tiruchy. Since Senthil Kumar was not keeping well, he did not agree. When the branch manager insisted, Senthil Kumar left the depot in a huff and purchased petrol with the help of an auto-driver.
He came back to Krishnan’s office and poured the petrol on himself and on the manager and tried to light a fire. Shocked auto drivers prevented Senthil Kumar before he could strike the match and rushed them to the government Rajaji hospital. According to doctors, they both are suffering from eye irritation and breathing problem, but their condition is stable.
Condemning the TNSTC management, Pudur depot workers affiliated to CITU and LPF unions refused to operate buses on Monday and demanded action against Krishnan. Members of CITU staged a demonstration in front of the Mattuthavani bus stand at 6.30 a.m. Senior TNSTC officials rushed to the spot, and assured them of appropriate action following which the workers resumed work at 8.30 a.m. TNSTC Managing Director T Veerapandiyan said he had arranged for counselling for crew in all depots. A departmental inquiry has been ordered into the incident.