Chennai: A bus driver was suspended in Tirunelveli district for allegedly threatening to beat a woman passenger with footwear. Following this, a video of the incident filmed by a co-passenger went viral on social media on Sunday.
According to a report in The New Indian Express, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) Tirunelveli S Rajeswaran informed that the driver was suspended after the issue was brought to his attention. He also said that the driver, identified as Muppidathi Muthu, was also not posted in any duty after the incident.
On August 15, Muppidathi Muthu was given the duty in government bus (27A) between Kadayam and Alangulam and the incident took place while the bus neared Kuthanpanchan village. While the bus was stationed at the village, a woman passenger, Chermakani boarded the bus and told the driver to wait for a few seconds so that her child and another woman could board the bus.
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However, the driver allegedly refused to wait and the woman started to argue and soon an altercation broke out. He had reportedly refused to wait and bad-mouthed. Annoyed by the comments, Chermakani had reportedly made a strong remark and recollected that Muthu did not stop the bus for her daughter who went to a school in Mathapattinam village. She also mentioned that due to the transportation issue, she had to admit her daughter to a school in Alangulam village.
Following the heated argument, the video reportedly showed the conductor threatening to hit the woman passenger with his footwear. Hence, Chermakani filed a complaint with the police and the Kadayam Police inspector took the incident to the attention of the Community Social Register. However, both the parties reached a compromise and hence a complaint was not register, said the report.