Cuttack: Tension flared in Cuttack’s Khannagar area early Sunday morning when a group of auto-rickshaw drivers allegedly vandalised an Ama Bus and abused its driver, amid a route diversion caused by a scheduled marathon.
The incident occurred around 7.30 am near Sai Mandir, where the Ama Bus, operating on Route No. 18 from Cuttack Netaji Bus Terminal (CNBT), was forced to take an alternate path. Police officers on duty had diverted the bus due to road closure for the marathon event.
According to the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), which operates the Ama Bus service, a few auto drivers deliberately blocked the bus during the diversion. They abused the driver verbally, broke the front wiper and used it to hit the front windscreen, causing damage to both the wiper and the windscreen.
It stressed that there was no collision or physical contact between the bus and any auto-rickshaw.
The CRUT, in the press release, further noted that a complaint has been lodged with Puri Ghat Police with photographs and video footage of the vandalism. It is collaborating with the Commissionerate Police to identify and take strict legal action against the perpetrators for disrupting public transport and damaging government property.
It further emphasised that such behaviour undermines the safety and reliability of public transport, which is meant to serve the community. The agency appealed to all stakeholders to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to respect buses that provide essential services to commuters.
This comes two days after an angry mob vandalised three Ama Buses on Janpath Road in Bhubaneswar following a minor mishap.
Also Read: Two Arrested For Vandalising 3 Ama Buses In Mob Attack On Janpath In Bhubaneswar
