A sharp dispute between public transport staff and private bus operators surfaced in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district after a conductor was allegedly assaulted during regular operations. The incident took place at Nerchowk involving an HRTC bus running on the Mandi to Chhatri route. A private bus operator's representative allegedly engaged in verbal abuse and physically struck the conductor, prompting the bus driver to halt the scheduled run and drive the passenger-filled vehicle directly to the police station, disrupting transit services on the route.
Confrontation During Passenger Boarding
According to the aggrieved conductor, Santosh Kumar, he was on duty on the Mandi-Chhatri route on October 7. At approximately 2:00 PM, the bus paused at Nerchowk to let commuters board and disembark while Kumar stood near the front doorway. During this brief stop, Hans Raj, identified as a purported agent for a private bus operator, repeatedly slammed the bus entrance door shut and began using offensive language. When Kumar objected to the disruptive behaviour, Hans Raj allegedly slapped him across the face.
Driver Diverts Vehicle to Police Station
Following the altercation, the bus driver chose not to continue the onward journey toward Chhatri and instead steered the bus directly to the Ratti police station. The sudden diversion left onboard passengers stranded and impacted normal transport operations along the Chhatri route. Santosh Kumar subsequently submitted a formal statement, prompting law enforcement to open an inquiry into the altercation.
Union Condemnation and Scrutiny of Private Agents
The HRTC Conductor Union strongly condemned the incident and expressed deep resentment, pressing authorities to safeguard public transport workers on duty. Lalit Rajput, the union's state media in-charge, pointed out that private bus agents maintain a regular presence at transit points like Nerchowk, Chaulchowk, and Dadhour. He questioned whether transport authorities maintain any official records regarding the appointment and authorization of these private agents.
Demand for Protection Act and Legal Action
Highlighting recurring risks faced by field personnel, the union's district head, Roop Lal, urged the state government to implement the Madi Personal Act without delay to protect HRTC drivers and conductors. Addressing the legal measures taken, Mandi SP Vinod Kumar confirmed that an FIR has been registered at the Balh police station against the accused following Santosh Kumar's complaint, with police actively investigating the case.
