Tension in erstwhile Khammam as RTC staff try to resume duties

Khammam: Tension prevailed in the district as RTC employees tried to resume duties against orders here on Tuesday. Police beefed up security at six bus depots in the erstwhile Khammam district and arrested employees who forcibly tried to enter the depots to join duties.

In order to pressurise the police, women conductors even climbed to the top floor of Congress district office and threatened to jump if the police prevented them from joining duties. Immediately firefighting vehicles were roped in to save women conductors, but they relented and got down without any incident.

Later, women conductors along with political parties leaders forcibly tried to enter the bus stand but the police prevented them and took them custody. Police shifted all arrested employees to Central Crime Station. An RTC conductor identified as Pilla Ramesh fainted during the agitation at Khammam depot and was shifted to a hospital.

Leaders said that he suffered from a mild heart attack. Police arrested nearly 100 employees from Sattupalli, Madhira, Manugur, Bhadrachalam, and Kothagudem. Police imposed section 144 in all depots and deployed huge police forces.

CPM party district secretary Nunna Nageswara Rao faulted the government for not letting employees resume duties. He said following a suggestion by the High Court, the employees wanted to join duties, but the government prevented them and arrested them.