Bengaluru bus conductor suspended after video of him beating woman passenger went viral

In the viral video, the BMTC conductor is seen raining blows on a woman passenger. (Image credit: @HateDetectors/X)

A bus conductor associated with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) was on Tuesday suspended after a video of him assaulting a woman passenger went viral on social media.

The incident reportedly happened on Tuesday morning, when a woman passenger -- who was travelling from Bilekalli to Shivajinagar -- got into an argument with the conductor regarding the ticket. In the video, the woman is heard screaming in Hindi repeatedly "How dare you hit me?" while other passengers attempt to pacify the conductor. Soon, however, the conductor was getting aggressive when the woman slapped him. The conductor retaliated and rained blows on her. She later filed a complaint at the Siddapur police station.

Slap-Kalesh b/w a Woman and Conductor inside BMTC bus Bengaluru KA
pic.twitter.com/xBWlAxwsO3

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— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) March 27, 2024

Following the incident, the BMTC issued a notice that the conductor had been suspended.

“Based on the said social media news, disciplinary action has been reserved against Mr Honnappa Nagappa Agasar, conductor, with immediate effect ‘suspended’,” it stated.

“Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation is giving high priority to the safety of women passengers. The corporation has taken measures like separate seating for women in buses, separate doors, installation of panic button, CCTV, installation of information boards, women’s rest room at major bus stations, helpline,” the notice read. “Necessary steps are taken to ensure that women passengers feel safe travelling in company buses.”

BMTC added that it provides “gender sensitisation training” to all its 27,000 driving staff to ensure that women feel safe and comfortable.