Security beefed up at RTC depots as strikers return

Hyderabad: Additional security has been provided at all 97 bus depots and bus bhavans in order to prevent any untoward incident as some employees have come on Tuesday to rejoin their duties, seeking exempting from the strike.

On any day, three to four police personnel are usually posted at the depots. Now, there are two to three additional personnel depending on the number of employees rejoining at the depots. At the Bus Bhavan at RTC Crossroads alone, there are more than 10 policemen deployed.

At Bhainsa bus depot, some unidentified persons wearing masks attacked depot manager Janardhan Sreeram while he was going to work. In the wake of such attacks, security has been beefed up.

RTC JAC convener Ashwathama Reddy said: “For the last 32 days we have been conducting a peaceful strike. We do not feel the need to turn violent on our own employees. We have no relation with the attack.”

Only 31 employees have rejoined duty in Greater Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy zones so far.

Despite the warning by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, employees are confident that their job is secure. “Not even 500 would rejoin duty, that leaves more than 48,000 on strike? We will continue our strike and we hope that there would be a change from the government side,” said a striking employee.