KSRTC bus conductor arrested for harassing woman on moving bus in Mangaluru

The Konaje police arrested a conductor of a KSRTC bus on the charge of sexual harassment on a moving bus in the city on Thursday. The accused has been identified as Pradeep Kashappa Naikar, the police said.

According to the police, a commuter shared a video of the conductor misbehaving with the woman on social media, which showed him standing close to a woman who had dozed off in the bus. The bus was coming to the city from Mudipu. Her head fell over the private part of the conductor, and he is seen moving his hand over her body.

Following a complaint, the Konaje police registered a case against the conductor, charging him with offences punishable under Sections 74 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 75 (sexual harassment) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The jurisdictional magistrate remanded him to 15 days of judicial custody.

Meanwhile, the KSRTC has suspended the services of Naikar owing to a pending disciplinary inquiry. In a letter addressed to the KSRTC Managing Director, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the inquiry should be completed at the earliest, and the conductor should be dismissed from service.

“Passengers have high regard for the services of KSRTC bus drivers and conductors, and conduct by a few has brought disrepute to the institution and employees,” the Minister stated.