Telangana bus strike gets murkier with suicides

hyderabad — Suicide of two employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) and attempted suicide by two others have given a serious turn to the bus strike, which entered 10th day on Monday.

Thousands of striking employees intensified their stir with emotions running high following suicide by a driver and a conductor on Sunday.

A shutdown was being observed on Monday in undivided Khammam district over the self-immolation by driver B. Srinivas Reddy.

The 55-year-old driver was drawing a salary of just over Rs40,000 per month. Reddy, who spent 28 years in TSRTC, was to retire next year.

He is survived by wife and two sons who serve in the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Reddy’s family members said

he had no financial problems but he felt strongly for his colleagues who were all dismissed by the government for going on strike. Reddy who set himself ablaze on Saturday died at a hospital in Hyderabad early on Sunday.

Hours later a conductor ended his life in Hyderabad. P. Surender Goud hanged himself at his house. The 46-year-old conductor was drawing around Rs25,000 per month. He was depressed after a cheque issued by him towards EMI for home loan had bounced due to insufficient amount in his bank account. Like all other striking employees, Goud had not received his salary for the month of September. He is survived by wife and two children.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in undivided Khammam district on a shutdown call by Joint Action Committee of employee unions. Opposition Congress, BJP, TDP, CPI, CPM, TJS and other groups and student bodies have declared support to the shutdown call. —