BAGALKOT: A 59-year-old NWKRTC driver, who had reported to duty amid the ongoing strike by the road transport employees, died after he was injured in a stone-pelting incident in Bagalkot.
Nabid Rasool Awati, known as a diligent and public-friendly driver, was driving a bus from Ghattaraga to Jamkhandi on Friday. Some miscreants threw stones at the bus when it arrived at Kavatagi Punarvasati Kendra. A few stones pierced through the front glass, leaving Awati grievously injured in the neck and chest.
Some locals rushed him to the government hospital in Jamkhandi where he succumbed to injuries.
Bagalkot SP Lokesh Jagalasara, who visited the spot, told TOI that they are searching for the accused who threw stones at the bus. Police are yet to ascertain whether they were NWKRTC employees or some private individuals.
Awati was on strike till Wednesday. However, NWKRTC officers visited his house and convinced him to join duty. Accordingly, he reported to duty on Thursday, said Awati's son Sahanoor.
Awati is survived by wife Saharabanu, 59, and four sons — Sahanoor, 31, Maqsood, 29, Mubaraq, 36, and Chandsab, 34.
Expressing shock over the incident, Krishna Bajpai, managing director, NWKRTC, said that Awati was a sincere worker. He was about to retire in six months. "He was a duty-bound and public-friendly driver. He had won gold and silver medals for safe and accident-free driving. He had resumed duty to serve the public. This should not have happened to him," he said.
NWKRTC has sanctioned Rs 30 lakh as initial ex-gratia to the bereaved family. "Other benefits will be granted later. We will also provide a job to one of his sons on compassionate grounds," Bajpai added.
Bagalkot deputy commissioner K Rajendra, who visited Awati's house, said it was clear whether the heinous act was carried out by Awati's colleagues or someone else. "However, it is suspected that some NWKRTC employees, who are on strike, might be behind this act," he added.
Minister condemns incident
"It is condemnable that the driver's own colleagues caused his death. Some transport employees are neither joining duty, nor allowing their colleagues to join. We will not spare those who have done it. We warn employees against such violent acts which discourage prompt, honest staff to serve the public," said Laxman Savadi, transport minister.