New delhi: a day after a
driver of the delhi transport corporation (dtc) was beaten to death, allegedly
by a biker in a case of road rage, drivers of the state-run bus service have
called a strike, causing problems for thousands of commuters and schoolchildren.
Ashok kumar, 42, died on sunday morning after vijay, a young man
whose bike he had grazed, climbed onto his bus and allegedly bludgeoned him
with his helmet. Investigations suggest vijay and his mother fell when the bus
hit their motorcycle.
The 40-odd passengers in the bus watched without helping as the
22-year-old biker beat the driver mercilessly and then fled, leaving him
bleeding and unconscious. The police are investigating whether vijay also
bashed the driver's head in with a fire extinguisher kept in the bus.
The incident took place in the mundka area of west delhi.
Vijay was arrested late last night, the police said.
The driver ashok kumar, a resident of haryana, was a father of
two. The delhi government announced a compensation of rs. 5 lakh for his
family. The government also said that a permanent job in the transport
department will be given to one family member of the deceased.
Most dtc buses are off the roads as their drivers are demanding
at least one crore compensation for ashok kumar's family, and better safety
measures.
Several schools relying on dtc buses alerted parents this
morning that they would have to make their own arrangements to pick up and drop
children.
Commuters this morning were scrambling for autorickshaws, taxis
or metros.
Chief minister arvind kejriwal has asked for a report on the
accident and the safety of bus staff and passengers in buses.
