Bengaluru: The indefinite strike called by the employees of road transport corporations in Karnataka over wage related issue entered its ninth day on Thursday, continuing to affect bus services across the state.

With a stalemate between the government and employees of four transport corporations in the state, over their demand for wages as per the 6th Pay Commission continuing, majority workers did not turn up for work, resulting in buses remaining off road, affecting commuters.

Aimed at intensifying their protest, the striking employees have decided to stage a candlelight protest on Thursday evening.

They have also planned to approach all the MLAs to urge them to raise their issue at the government-level.

Amid threats of tough action, "no work no pay", few RTC employees have returned to work and are operating buses on some routes in the city and different parts of the state.

Pegging the revenue loss at Rs 152 crore with buses belonging to all the four RTCs not running, Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who also holds Transport portfolio, last evening said over 3,200 buses were operating so far, as employees were returning to work on the request of the government.

He also appealed to employees not to listen to vested interests who are instigating for the strike and to get back to work.

Savadi in his statement had also said that a total of 60 buses belonging to all the four RTCs were damaged so far by miscreants in the name of protests as he condemned the act.

Some Volvo buses have been damaged, he said, adding that police have started taking action against those involved.

The government has made it clear that it was not possible to implement the sixth pay commission for the RTC employees, and had ruled out any talks with them.

RTCs that have been warning employees against continuing with the strike, have started taking action against trainee and probationary employees by dismissing them for absence from work and not responding to notice.

Private buses, mini buses, maxi cabs and other passenger transport vehicles, whom authorities have roped in to manage the crisis and help commuters, were seen providing services to passengers in different parts of the city and the state.

Metro, autos and cabs were also being largely used for commuting within the city.

Citing inconvenience caused to the public and that the strike was against provisions of the industrial disputes act, the Labour department last week had issued an order banning the strike, and had referred the dispute to the industrial tribunal, Bengaluru for adjudication.

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Vijayapura (Karnataka), Feb 19 (PTI): A MBBS student was allegedly ragged and assaulted by his seniors at a medical college here, following which authorities have swung into action and have initiated legal action against the culprits, offcials said on Wednesday.

The victim is a second-year MBBS student at Al-Ameen Medical College, and hails from Jammu and Kashmir.

According to official sources, the student has alleged that he was subjected to ragging and physical assault by senior students. The incident reportedly happened on Tuesday evening during a cricket match, when they questioned his presence and demanded that he leave, but he refused.

He was allegedly asked to sing songs and dance for their amusement, and was even threatened.

The district Deputy Commissioner's office in a statement said, the student did not suffer any injuries and that he was physically healthy, and appropriate legal action is being taken against four senior students.

"Regarding the report that a student at Al-Ameen Medical College in Navarasapura village of Tikota taluk being subjected to ragging and physical violence by 4 senior MBBS students of the same college, as per the directions of the Deputy Commissioner, Vijayapura and Tikota Tahsildars and Additional Superintendents of Police met the student who was assaulted, checked him, and inquired his well-being," the statement read.

They have given a report stating that the student did not suffer any injuries and he was physically healthy, it said

The details of the incident have been given to the Principal Secretary to the Government, Medical Education Department, Mohammad Mohsin, and he has asked to provide appropriate assistance to the attacked student and appropriate legal action to be taken against the four senior students who assaulted him.

The Deputy Commissioner's office statement further stated that appropriate legal action is being taken against the students who assaulted him.

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