KSRTC Driver Tries To Set Self Ablaze Near HQ

BENGALURU: Tension prevailed at KSRTC head office on KH Road in Shanthinagar after a 51-year-old driver attempted suicide on Monday morning.

In the suicide note, he alleged that he was harassed by officials who are demanding bribe to employ him as permanent staff.

The driver has been identified as Raamu, a native of Malavalli who has been working in the department for the past 19 years. He lives in Chickpet with his family. He was employed as a trainee in the Mysuru depot, driving the bus that plies between Mysuru and Bengaluru.

The police said Raamu had left home on November 25 after writing a suicide note, explaining what led him to take this extreme step. His wife Vijayalakshmi, who found suicide note, approached police and filed a man missing case.

On Monday, at around 10.45 am, Raamu, along with four other employees, went to the transport corporation’s head office and poured kerosene over himself before trying to set himself ablaze. The police, alerted of the incident, rescued Raamu and took him to the station.

During questioning by Wilson Garden police, Raamu alleged that officers from KSRTC were harassing him over the last few years and demanding `20,000 from him to the make him a permanent employee. Upset over this, he had decided to end his life and demanded necessary action against them.

Raamu forged transfer certificate: KSRTC

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has alleged that Raamu (driver No 3429) is using to unlawful means to apply pressure on the corporation.

He joined as a trainee driver in 1995 at the Mysore division. After his two years, he forged his transfer certificate and joined this division. The forgery was detected by divisional security personnel, an official said.

After the forgery was established, the driver was issued a show cause notice by the corporation, and he furnished a fresh transfer certificate.

However, several complaints of bogus transfer certificates came up and the central office took up an investigation.

Raamu was also in the ambit of investigation, but his service was not terminated, said the official.

Raamu is pressuring the corporation as it is trying initiate action according the rules and regulations, said the official. Hearing of this, the Divisional Controller, Mysore Division, tried to contact the driver through the division’s security personnel, but he was absconding, the official added.

Severe action will be initiated if any official is found guilty as alleged by Raamu’, the KSRTC has said.