Kolkata: A 31-year-old woman and her 63-year-old father were allegedly assaulted by a bus conductor near Kadapara crossing on the EM Bypass on Thursday morning following a dispute over fare and delays.
The woman later took to social media to describe the incident.
According to the complainant, she, her father and sister boarded a crowded private bus from Ruby around 10.07 am while on their way to visit her ailing mother in hospital. She said that despite paying the fare, the conductor repeatedly claimed it was incorrect, demanded more money and behaved aggressively, engaging in similar disputes with other passengers.
The bus moved slowly and halted several times along the route. Passengers urged the driver to proceed faster when it reached Chingrighata around 10.40 am, she said. She got down near a private hospital close to Kadapara crossing around 10.50 am and raised the issue with the conductor, who allegedly told her to take a cab if she was in a hurry.
"When I questioned why I should take a cab, he came towards me, pointing his fingers in a threatening manner," she wrote. "When my father intervened, he was attacked. When I tried to stop him, he hit me as well."
She said passengers who protested were verbally abused, while others remained passive. "Some spoke up, many stayed silent. One person kept recording instead of helping," she added.
The complainant later approached the police and said she would submit a written statement.