Delhi bus drivers on strike after colleague is beaten to death, demand Rs 1 crore compensation

New Delhi: Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) union have called a strike on Monday, day after a driver was beaten to death allegedly by a biker in a case of road rage. Expressing dissent over the compensation declared by state transport minister Gopal Rai, the drivers demanded that the culprits should be booked at the earliest.

"DTC management is the worst. They have absolutely no concern for us. Also, the Government has promised only Rs 5 lakh compensation. Earlier, when a similar incident had happened, the driver's family was compensated with a crore. This time, our fellow mate was murdered while on duty. Hence, this compensation is not enough to pay for his life", said a DTC driver.

The union has called for a strike for an indefinite period until their demands are met.

Read: Road rage: DTC driver bludgeoned to death by biker

"Besides, our taxable allowances (TA) are being usurped by the government for the past nine years. No worker gets it. We go on strike when our demands are not met. This issue is also a part of our strike today", said another driver.

On Sunday, a 42-year-old Delhi Transport Corporation bus driver was allegedly beaten to death with a helmet and a fire extinguisher by two persons in west Delhi’s Mundka area. According to the police, the deceased, Ashok Singh, was bludgeoned to death when the bus he was driving suddenly hit a motorcycle carrying two persons, who fell and sustained injuries. One of the injured beat up the DTC driver along with his associate.

The Delhi government has announced an immediate compensation of Rs 5 lakh to Ashok Singh’s family. The government also plans to provide a permanent job to a member of his family.