Kolkata: Conductor hits man in ‘heat of moment’

KOLKATA: The excruciating heat seems to be getting better of Kolkatans’ temper. Apparently frustrated that the driver of a bus on Route 242 was driving too slowly on the scorching Friday afternoon, two passengers started yelling at the conductor, who reportedly lost his cool and hit one of them.
The incident took place around 12.15pm near Dharmatolla Street, when Joy Prakash Shaw (45) and Kartick Patra (31), travelling on a Route 242 bus, got angry that the driver “was unnecessarily driving slow”. They started shouting at the conductor, who reportedly did not react initially. But as their yelling continued, the conductor joined in. The altercation escalated and suddenly, the conductor reportedly hit Shaw. It happened so quickly that the passengers could not react at first, witnesses said. But presently, they pounced on him, while some others called cops posted at a traffic signal ahead.
Even as the conductor was arrested, the other passengers said he attacked at the spur of the moment. Police said Shaw was treated at Medical College and Hospital and discharged.