Thiruvananthapuram : A four-member unidentified gang attacked a KSRTC bus conductor and driver for asking them not to travel on the footboard of the bus on Wednesday night at Muttathara . Shan, 32, of Vayyangeli Vadakkathil Veettil at Chavara in Kannur, and Rakesh, 35, of Balaramapuram were injured in the attack. They were hospitalised by Poonthura police, who reached the spot after being alerted by passengers.
The gang boarded the bus from Ambalathara Junction and remained on the footboard. When other passengers complained, the conductor asked them to come up as there were enough vacant seats. However, this led to a heated exchange of words, and the conductor, Shan, was attacked by the gang.
Seeing this, the driver stopped the bus, and in the meantime, the gang pulled the conductor out of the bus. He was hit on the face and was beaten up. As he fell down the gang kicked him on the face and stomach as well.
The driver and some passengers who tried to stop them were also attacked by the gang. The bus was also vandalised by the accused, and a loss of Rs 20,000 was reported, informed the police. The accused fled the scene before the police reached the spot.
Poonthura police registered a case under BNS 126 (2) for wrongful restraint, 132 for assault or using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty, 121 (1) for voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant, 324 for mischief causing damage, and 296 (b) for abusing. “We have intensified the search for the acc.