Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at the RTC depots and bus stations across the state on Tuesday when police prevented RTC workers from resuming their duties.
On Monday, while calling-off the strike, RTC JAC urged all workers to report for duty in their respective depot by 6 am on Tuesday.
When they reached their work place, police personnel, deployed at all 97 depots, prevented them from entering the premises, which led to scuffles. The police took into preventive custody hundreds of workers across the state. Commotion and unease prevailed when the ‘regular’ staff obstructed and stopped temporary drivers and conductors from attending duty.
Upset by the management’s decision of not allowing them to join duty, Rajender, a driver at Bodhan depot, died of cardiac arrest Tuesday morning. Rajender hailed from Mangalapad village of Edapalli mandal in Nizamabad district.
Bhimla, a conductor from Sangareddy depot, collapsed after a cardiac arrest at Indrakaran police station of the Siddipet district when he was detained by the police. He was rushed to a private hospital for treatment, where doctors informed that he had suffered heart-attack.
When workers had an argument, cops told them that they had orders from higher officials not to allow them into the depots. Section 144 has been imposed at all depots. Women employees turned emotional and even those who tried to touch the feet of policemen posted at the depots, were prevented entry.
Around 4,200 RTC employees have been placed under preventive custody.
