Public anger as bus runs over bank officer

H.Y. Mahesh who has been fighting corruption in BBMP for the past three years through intense use of RTI and Lokayukta died in an accident this Monday morning. Mahesh was fatally hit from behind by a BMTC bus while he was on his scooter and he succumbed to injuries before he arrived at the Victoria Hospital. Photo: Special Arrangement

There was tension for some time near the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) office in front of Badami House here after a senior assistant manager of the State Bank of India was run over by a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus at 9.40 a.m. on Monday.

The Ulsoor Gate traffic police identified the victim as H.Y. Mahesh (58), a resident of Hanumanthanagar.

Mr. Mahesh died on the spot when the bus hit his motorcycle, causing him to fall and come under the front wheel of the bigger vehicle.

Traffic jam

Within minutes, an enraged public — mostly two-wheeler riders and office-goers — gathered at the spot and attempted to attack BMTC buses near the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) office and at Hudson Circle.

Public anger mounted as people threw stones at the bus and tried to beat up the driver, who managed to flee. The situation led to traffic snarls and the police had to intervene to clear them.

‘Speeding'

An eyewitness said that the bus (Route 288) coming from K.R. Market and heading towards Thindlu, was “speeding” in its bid to overtake another BMTC bus when it hit the two-wheeler.

Another eyewitness, Basavanna, an LIC agent, told The Hindu : “The rider fell and came under the bus. He died instantly.”

“Mahesh was soft-spoken and good-hearted,” said Lathamani, a relative.

The Ulsoor Gate traffic police arrested bus driver Mahantesh. They have seized the bus.