Bus Conductor Assaulted For Not Speaking Marathi In Karnataka's Belagavi, 3 Arrested

After the bus was stopped in Belagavi, a larger group of around 50 people gathered and joined in the assault, leaving the conductor with internal injuries.

The situation escalated when the passengers insisted that Hukkeri speak in Marathi.

Source : X

A Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus conductor was brutally assaulted by a group of Marathi-speaking individuals in Belagavi on Friday after he failed to speak in their language to passengers. The incident, which occurred at Balekundri, has sparked outrage and highlighted the linguistic tensions in the border district of Belagavi.

The victim, Mahadev Hukkeri, was on duty aboard a semi-urban CBT-Sulebhavi bus when the altercation began. According to Hukkeri, a woman passenger, accompanied by a man, requested two free tickets in Marathi. Under Karnataka’s Shakti Scheme, bus rides are free for women, but not for men, as per a report on ANI. Hukkeri issued one free ticket to the woman and questioned the need for a second ticket, as the man was not eligible for the benefit.

When the woman pointed to the man as the intended recipient of the second ticket, Hukkeri explained that men are not entitled to free travel. The situation escalated when the passengers insisted that Hukkeri speak in Marathi. The conductor, who does not understand Marathi, requested that they communicate in Kannada, the official language of Karnataka.

 

#WATCH | Karnataka: A KSRTC bus conductor beaten up allegedly for not speaking in Marathi, in Belagavi

Mahadev Hukkeri, KSRTC conductor, says, " ...A woman and a man were sitting in the bus, majority of the passengers in the bus were women, I was distributing tickets, in… pic.twitter.com/YB2pAMVkIM

— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2025

 

This exchange led to a heated argument, during which 6-7 passengers on the bus allegedly attacked Hukkeri. After the bus was stopped, a larger group of around 50 people gathered and joined in the assault, leaving the conductor with internal injuries. Hukkeri was rushed to Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.

 Raju Nashipudi, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike District President, Belagavi, told ANI, " The incident that took place in Belagavi, conductor was doing his duty. Then, a female student forced him to speak in Marathi and when the conductor said he didn't know Marathi, the boys who were with the girl, attacked him. Instead of giving justice to the conductor, who was attacked, a case has been registered against him under the POCSO act...we will protest outside the Police station where the case has been registered..."

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rohan Jagadhish visited the hospital to check on Hukkeri’s condition and assured that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators. The Marihal Police have arrested three individuals—Maruti Turumuri, Rahul Naidu, and Balu Gojagekar—and apprehended one minor in connection with the attack.