A temporary conductor, working with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), approached the police on Friday alleging that she had escaped an alleged rape bid and was molested by a temporary driver.
The woman was reported to be a student, who took up the temporary job to support her studies. The accused was identified as Srinivas and has been arrested.
According to the complaint, the incident happened when the bus was on its way to Chennur from Mancherial. The woman alleged that the driver picked a time when the bus was empty and stopped it in in a forest area which was secluded, and tried to rape her.
The woman raised an alarm following which passers-by from the road rushed to the bus. The woman got off the vehicle, and Srinivas sped away. He was later nabbed by the police.
"She escaped from him and came to the police station to lodge a complaint. We have registered a case against Srinivas for the rape attempt," the police was quoted as saying.
A case has been registered under Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC against the driver, and further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, with the state government sticking to its stand, the strike by RTC employees continued on the 14th day on Friday and no imminent end appeared in sight, despite the case coming up for hearing in the High Court and intervention by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.
More than 48,000 employees have been on strike, demanding the merger of the RTC with the government, and payment of dues. To bridge the shortfall, the state government has been hiring temporary staff as drivers and conductors.
TSRTC claims to be operating 75% of bus services. The government remained confident of restoring normal operations by October 21 when educational institutions will re-open after extended Dasara holidays.
IANS inputs