People travelling to work in the national capital region had a tough time on Monday morning after Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers went on a strike to protest against the murder of their colleague.
Commuters scrambled for autorickshaws and there was a huge rush on the Delhi Metro as DTC buses stayed off the roads.
The strike was called after a 42-year-old bus driver Ashok Kumar was beaten to death by a motorcycle rider on Sunday evening after the bus he was driving hit the two wheeler in the Mundka area of west Delhi. The biker was later arrested.
The incident — the fourth case of road rage in the city over the last 10 days — led to protests from DTC employees and the family of the deceased.
Read: Drivers on strike
DTC drivers and conductors have said they will not allow buses to ply until victim's family is given a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a family member is given a permanent job in DTC.
According to police, Kumar, driver of the inter-state green bus, hit the bike of accused Vijay from behind causing his mother, who was riding pillion, to fall down.
An angry Vijay then intercepted the bus and entered it with helmet in hand. He allegedly rained blows on Kumar using his helmet and a fire extinguisher kept in the bus. The driver was then dragged out of the bus and attacked till he fell unconscious, a senior police officer said.
None of the 30 passengers in the bus intervened. Before fleeing the crime scene, Vijay reportedly threatened bus conductor Manjeet with dire consequences if he reported the incident to the police.
After he left, the police control room was informed and the driver was taken to a nearby private hospital where he succumbed to serious internal injuries.
Doctors at the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital where the body was taken later told the police there were no external injuries. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of death will be conducted on Monday.
The deceased, a native of Bahadurgarh, is survived by his mother Kitabo Devi, wife Rakesh and children Ajay and Varsha. Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai met the family and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
A case of murder and attack on a public servant was registered against Vijay, a resident of Mundka. Some eyewitnesses said there were two attackers.
Read:
Delhi road rage again: Businessman thrashed by 3 drunk men, car vandalised
Woman journalist roughed up in Delhi road rage
Kin of man killed in road rage assault say land mafia behind murder
