Surat: Around 50 percent of the BRTS-city bus staff, including drivers and conductors in the city, have initiated a strike in protest of the new rules for hit-and-run incidents in the recently passed penal law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. While protesting they stopped and opposed the operation of BRTS buses on certain routes today. When the police intervened, clashes erupted, resulting in a policeman being chased and assaulted. Approximately 50 individuals attacked the policeman, with 19 of them identified and detained by the police.

According to information, the BRTS bus service had commenced on Dumas Road; however, the protest broke out when it reached Antroli, leading to the vandalism of a city bus on Antroli Road. Some city bus contract drivers and conductors blocked the road with intense protests. Videos of protestors clashing with the police have gone viral on social media.

On Surat-Magdalla Road witnessed demonstrations by the drivers, and it has been revealed that a policeman from PCR van 902 was critically attacked. A policeman from GJ05-GV-2270 also faced an assault. The situation became tense, and videos of the attack circulated widely on social media.

DCP Rajesh Parmar reported that the incident occurred in the morning during driver protests. Dumas Police’s PCR arrived to clear the road, leading to a scuffle between the driver and their constable. All involved have been booked under IPC 332, 323, 341, 504, and 506. Of the 40 to 50 people involved in the police assault, 19 have been identified and detained. DeshGujarat