Warangal: Erukonda Ravinder, 53, a TSRTC conductor of the Hanamkonda bus depot, who was admitted in a private hospital in Hyderabad on October 31 after he complained of chest pain, was declared dead late on Saturday night.
His body was brought to his village, Atmakur in Warangal Rural district, early on Sunday, under heavy police bandobast. Police swamped the village and did not allow any outsiders into Ravinder’s house. RTC employees came in large numbers to take part in the final rites. When Parkal MLA Challa Dharma Reddy sought to visit the home, RTC employees refused. Police arrested the RTC workers and took Mr Reddy inside. He spoke to the family members and assured them of state support.
RTC employees, along with other political party leaders, staged a sit-in on the road and raised slogans against the state government.
Family members said Ravinder had completed the weddings of both his daughters after taking a loan from the bank and also constructed a house. As salaries have not been paid for two months, he had not been able to pay the repayment instalments and the bank sent him notices. Ravinder was worried about the situation and hoped for a positive response from the discussions held by the government with the RTC JAC leaders.
TSRTC employees who took part in the funeral procession at Atmakur complained that women workers were beaten up. Workers said the police assault led to clashes between the both sides.
“A police officer came charging at us and started pushing us. He started beating up a worker for questioning his actions and when I along with other female workers went to stop him, he slapped me,” said an employee Uma, showing her cheek.
