A very shocking incident has come to light from Karnataka’s major port city Mangaluru. A state contract conductor employed by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has been arrested in Mangaluru. The arrest was made following the allegations of molesting a female passenger on a public bus.
The alleged incident came to light after a video reportedly capturing the act circulated widely on social media. The viral video has triggered widespread condemnation and outrage in the state over the safety of women.
Video Evidence Leads to Swift Action
The Police reports revealed that a fellow commuter filmed the conductor engaging in inappropriate behavior with a woman. The woman had allegedly fallen asleep on the bus en route to Mangaluru from Mudipu.
The viral footage shows the conductor standing close to the sleeping woman. The woman’s head had leaned towards the accused. The video further captures the conductor leaning towards the asleep woman and then moving his hand over her body. The video captured by a fellow passenger was subsequently shared on social media. This prompted immediate public outcry drawing the attention of law enforcement in the state.
Accused Identified and Arrested
Following the discovery of the video the police launched an investigation into the matter. Based on the video evidence and a formal complaint by the woman, the Konaje police registered a case against the conductor. Soon the accused was apprehended from Mangaluru.
The conductor has been identified as Pradeep Kashappa Naikar, 35, from Bagalkote. The accused has been charged under Sections 74 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 75 (sexual harassment) of the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following his arrest on Thursday, a jurisdictional magistrate remanded Naikar to 15 days of judicial custody.
KSRTC Suspends Conductor
Taking swift action on the matter, the KSRTC immediately suspended Pradeep Kashappa Naikar pending a disciplinary inquiry. In a letter addressed to the KSRTC Managing Director, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy emphasized the seriousness of the incident.
He further called for the immediate completion of the inquiry and the conductor’s dismissal from service. The Minister stated “Passengers have high regard for the services of KSRTC bus drivers and conductors, and conduct by a few has brought disrepute to the institution and employees”.
Second Molestation Case in Karnataka This Month
Well this is not the first such incident, this marks the second such reported case of molestation in Karnataka in a month. Earlier in April, CCTV footage captured an unidentified man stalking and groping a woman in Bengaluru. A police complaint was filed in that case, and an investigation is currently underway.
However, the KSRTC has yet to release an official statement regarding the final status of Naikar’s employment.
