Tension prevailed at the Belagavi division office of the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) for a while on Saturday after a bus conductor allegedly attempted suicide by consuming a herbicide.
Prakash Ramchandra Chowdhary (54) was shifted to the district government hospital and the doctors told The Hindu that his condition was stable.
His blood samples had been sent for clinical examination and he would be under observation for 48 hours.
His family members and leaders of the Belagavi unit of the All-India Trade Union Congress said that Mr. Chowdhary was not able to work hard ever since he suffered a head injury a couple of years ago.
Denial
Though he often insisted that he be given lighter jobs, it was denied to him for various reasons.
He appears to have taken it to his heart when he was not allotted any work in the last four days and consumed poison.
Secretary of the Belagavi unit of the union lodged a complaint against K.K. Lamani, manager of depot 1 with the NWKRTC Divisional Controller.
Background
However, Labour Officer P.Y. Naik said Mr. Chowdhary did not consume poison but had sprayed it over his face and there was no threat to his life.
He had been insisting that he be put on duty only in premier routes and multi-axel Volvo buses.
He believed that officials were biased against him while they were obliging to other conductors.
It is learnt that Mr. Chowdhary had made similar attempts twice in the past.
He was dismissed from service once but was reinstated.
The department, however, was conducting an inquiry into the matter, Mr. Naik said.
Meanwhile, the Market Police have registered a case and taken up investigation.
Labour union files complaint against manager of depot 1
