Tension prevailed at the Hanamkonda bus stand here on Thursday when the striking RTC employees clashed with the police deployed on security duties. The police arrested three employees who damaged the window panes of a bus and tried to attack a temporary driver who reported for duty.
Even while they were being shifted to police station, hordes of striking employees tried to stall the police jeep forcing them to disperse the mob. Enraged at the police action, some employees set ablaze an unused bus tyre at the bus stand leading to further commotion.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of striking workers took out a rally from Hanamkonda bus depot to Hanamkonda bus stand via Ambedkar statue. As they tried to enter the bus stand, the police stopped them leading to tension. The police thought they would stop the buses being run with temporary staff and might attack men on duty.
Prohibitory orders
The police imposed Section 144 prohibiting large gathering of people on the bus stand premises. The second day of strike affected the normal life forcing the people to look for alternatives. A few passengers were seen waiting patiently for buses to reach their homes in long-distance services.
