Metro operations resume after employees' protest

BENGALURU: Namma Metro stations resumed at 11.30 am after a flash strike by employees had affected operations.

The employees were incensed that the Halasur gate police arrested six Bangalaore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) employees for assaulting policemen.

Thousands of Metro commuters who came to the station were left in the lurch and were sent back by officials at various stations, saying that operations were closed due to ‘unscheduled maintenance’.

BMRCL personnel staged a protest against the arrest and demanded that the accused be released. They staged a protest at Byappanahalli police station.

Confirming that metro services were affected, the CPRO of BMRCL, U A Vasanth Rao tweeted: Train services temporarily stopped - will tweet once the issues are resolved.

Train service temporally stopped - will tweet once the issues are resolved

— Namma Metro CPRO (@uavasanthrao) July 7, 2017

Background

A minor scuffle between Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF) turned nasty after three KSISF personnel were assaulted on Thursday.

The incident was reported at Sir M Visveshwaraya Central College in Bengaluru.
 
A minor scuffle was reported between one Rakesh, a BMRCL employee, and Anand Guddad, a KDISF staffer, at around 6.10 am on Thursday.

Rakesh, while entering the station for his work had refused to scan his bag at the security check, stating that he was an employee. When Guddad insisted that he run his bag through the scanner, it resulted in a minor scuffle. His bag was then forcibly scanned by security personnel.

At around 9.40 am, Rakesh came back with four of his colleagues and assaulted Guddad and two others who came to his rescue. A police complaint was filed.