Tension prevails in Atmakur over death of RTC conductor

Warangal: The TSRTC conductor who suffered heart stroke on October 31 breathed his last on late Saturday night. Erukonda Ravinder who was working with Hanamkonda local depot suffered chest pain and was admitted to a local hospital before he was shifted to a private hospital in Hyderabad. Since then there was confusion over his health status.

On Saturday, social media was agog with contrasting news about his fate. Against this backdrop, Ravinder's body was shifted to Atmakur, his native place, in the wee hours of Sunday, amid tight police security.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.The relatives of Ravinder were reportedly upset with the police's highhandedness in arranging last rites in a hurried manner without consulting them.

On the other hand, Parkal MLA Challa Dharma Reddy had encountered a piquant situation when he came to Atmakur to console the family members of Ravinder. He was obstructed by the relatives and villagers from entering the house. However, the police provided him safe passage to meet the family members. He assured the family members of providing State government's assistance to them.

RTC employees and leaders of Opposition parties raised slogans against Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for the situation. It may be mentioned here that the RTC employees were on indefinite strike since October 5 and were not paid salaries.

Ravinder who married of his both daughters and constructed a house taking loan from the bank failed to pay the instalments as he didn't get salary due to strike. It is said that he was upset after he got a notice from the bank. Ravinder who had been in a state of depression since the talks failed between the government and the RTC JAC leaders suffered heart stroke, it's reported.

Meanwhile, hundreds of villagers and RTC workers staged a protest on Warangal-Bhupalapatnam National Highway. During a scuffle between the protestors and police, an RTC driver Prasad sustained injuries.

Speaking to media persons, MRPS founder president Manda Krishna Madiga consoled Ravinder's family members and alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was predetermined to privatise the RTC.

He blamed the Chief Minister for the RTC strike. Extending his support, he said that RTC workers have to continue their fight in the same spirit as they did during the separate Telangana Movement. He demanded that the State government take care of Ravinder's family.