more-in A section of the private bus employees on the Kozhikode-Atholi route resorted to a flash strike on Friday alleging that one of their colleagues, a conductor, was manhandled by an eight-member gang at Atholi. The conductor, who complained of uneasiness after the incident on Thursday night, was admitted to the Koyilandy government hospital. Police officials from Atholy station said they had registered a case on the basis of the petition filed by the conductor. The attack was reportedly spearheaded by the relatives of a girl student who had earlier lodged a complaint with the Kasaba police alleging that the conductor had misbehaved with her during a journey, the police said. Police officials also confirmed that the row was mainly over denying concession ticket to the girl student. Trade union leaders from Atholy alleged that the conductor was targeted by the gang on the basis of a forged complaint. Even a local body member from the Atholi area joined the gang of attackers after intercepting the bus using another vehicle, they alleged. Midhun Lal, president of the bus employees’ union in Atholy, said the strike would be called off only after the arrest of the attackers. “The services of not less than 40 private buses will be affected on the route till the settlement of the issue,” he said. The conductor, who is undergoing treatment at the Koyilandy government hospital, also complained that he lost his gold chain during the incident.

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