Bengaluru's Namma Metro comes to a halt, commuters stranded as staff protest

A scuffle that broke out between staff of Metro and security personnel has escalated into a full-blown protest

Hundreds of commuters were left stranded as Bengaluru's Namma Metro services came to a halt on Friday. The staff of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited staged a protest against the police after their colleague was arrested for assaulting a guard deployed at a Metro station on Thursday.

Passengers who were all set to board the metro on Friday morning were forced to take alternate transport after BMRCL confirmed that services had come to a halt. "I travel from Jalahalli to Jayanagar via the Metro. Today I was told that no trains were running and I had to take a cab to reach college. I had to spend Rs 260 for the cab. The metro ride generally takes less time and costs me Rs 40," said Sahana, a student of a college in South Bengaluru.

The protest was a fallout of a scuffle between security personnel of Karnataka State Industrial Security Force and BMRCL staff that took place outside the Majestic Metro station on Thursday. BMRCL staff refused to provide their bags for scrutiny when asked by the security personnel. What started off as the argument escalated into a physical fight. While the security personnel and Metro staff came to blows, police complaints were filed by both parties. The Bengaluru police arrested a staff of the BMRCL as well as a KSISF guard after which protests began against the police.

While the security personnel and Metro staff came to blows, police complaints were filed by both parties.Onlookers recorded videos of the scuffle where the BMRCL staff are seen thrashing a KSISF guard. Metro that was supposed to start plying at 5 AM from all stations, did not roll out of Friday.

OneIndia News