Altercation between bus crew and policemen creates tension at Gobichettipalayam bus stand

Tension prevailed for a while at the Gobichettipalayam bus stand in Erode on Wednesday after three policemen from Salem district were involved in an altercation with a TNSTC bus driver and conductor, leading to stoppage of buses for 15 minutes.

A sub-inspector and two constables, escorting two undertrial prisoners from the district prison in Gobichettipalayam, boarded the Sathyamangalam to Erode point-to-point bus at Cutchery Medu bus stop. The conductor, Sathyamoorthy of Kavundapadi, told the policemen to purchase tickets for the prisoners and explained that tickets would be issued only from Sathyamangalam to Gobichettipalayam, as it was a point-to-point bus service. However, the policemen said they cannot buy tickets from Sathyamangalam, as this would imply that they had taken the prisoners to Sathyamangalam.

As the conductor and policemen continued to argue, the driver, Ashok, also questioned the policemen. The bus reached the Gobichettipalayam bus stand, where the driver and conductor informed other drivers.

Condemning the policemen, the drivers and conductors refused to operate the buses and staged a protest. Police officials held talks with the drivers and conductors, and the issue was resolved. Later, the policemen boarded another bus to Salem.