BMTC Bus Conductor Stabbed After Asking Passenger Not To Stand On Footboard In Bengaluru

A 45-year-old bus conductor in Bengaluru was stabbed after asking a passenger not to stand on the footboard (near the door of the vehicle) on Tuesday, October 1. The conductor, identified as Yogesh, was injured in the incident and was immediately taken to a private hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.

The attacker, Harsh Sinha, originally from Jharkhand, was arrested by other passengers and handed over to the police. Sinha had recently lost his job at a Bengaluru call centre (BPO firm) on September 20. The stabbing occurred near the Whitefield police station while the bus, operated by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), was in transit.

Yogesh was promptly taken to Vydehi Hospital for treatment, where he was declared out of danger after receiving medical care, according to a statement from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

Following the incident, police arrested Sinha under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and have launched an investigation.

According to the police, Harsh Sinha was traveling on a BMTC Volvo bus when the incident occurred near Vydehi Circle in Whitefield around 5:15 p.m. The conductor, Yogesh, had allegedly warned Sinha not to stand near the door for safety reasons. Enraged by the warning, Sinha reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Yogesh.

The police further stated that Sinha attempted to stab other passengers, prompting them to vacate the bus. The driver, Siddalingaswamy, quickly locked the bus doors and jumped out, leaving Sinha inside. In a further act of aggression, Sinha allegedly took a hammer and began vandalizing the bus.

An eyewitness, who captured a video of the incident, claimed that Sinha had attended a job interview earlier that day but did not receive a favorable outcome. He allegedly expressed his willingness to go to jail after committing the crime.

In a statement, the BMTC said, "While performing his duties, Yogesh instructed a passenger, Harsh Sinha, to move away from the bus's middle doors for safety reasons. However, the passenger reacted violently and attacked our conductor, stabbing him in a sudden outburst."

The statement added, "Sinha then threatened the other passengers, forcing them to vacate the bus, and later used a hammer to damage the windows and other property. We commend the quick and decisive actions of our driver, Siddalingaswamy, who locked the attacker inside the bus, ensuring the safety of all passengers. With the help of passengers, he alerted the police and emergency services."

This is not the first violent incident in Bengaluru this year. In April, a 35-year-old cab driver fatally stabbed his girlfriend in public after she rejected his marriage proposal. After the attack, the man surrendered at a police station and was later arrested. The woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene.