After causing panic in trains, students of Presidency college caused fear among passengers by wielding swords while travelling in a MTC bus near Mint junction on Wednesday. MTC officials said that their customer care gets frequent complaints against students causing nuisance.
A video that was widely circulated on social media shows a group of students travelling on the two footboards of a MTC bus. They are seen shouting slogans praising Maanila Kaloori (Presidency College) and also their route.
A few seconds later, the youngsters standing on the front footboard take out a sword and drag it on the road. Those standing on the rear footboard also emulate the same actions with their sword. They continue the act for some distance despite the presence of some traffic on the stretch.
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“Though the bus is not crowded, the students are found standing on the footboard. We have identified the route as 57 F plying between Karanodai and Broadway. The incident happened near the Mint bus stand and the boys took out the swords after crossing Stanley Hospital,” said a police officer.
Though there was no complaint initially, the police took up the case suo-motu and started investigation. A case was registered in the Washermanpet police station. With the help of Anna Square police, the students were identified.
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“We secured one of them who is seen wearing a cap and red shirt. He is a first year student. It was his friends who took out the sword,” said a police officer. Police said that the college management will be removing the students from college.
‘Perennial problem’
On Thursday morning, the MTC branch and regional managers lodged a complaint. “On an average we get at least two complaints everyday pertaining to the nuisance created by the college students. We lodge police complaints as and when we come across such issues. The problem is common on college routes in the city and suburbs,” said a senior MTC official.
The reason why students indulge in such stunts is to either show off infront of girls or to show route superiority. “The students used weapons in trains earlier, but as checking was intensified by the Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force (RPF), they have started the same in MTC buses.