Chennai: Warned over footboard travel, school students assault MTC conductor

CHENNAI: Valasaravakkam police have registered a case against a group of school students who allegedly assaulted a government bus conductor after he warned them against travelling on the footboard on Thursday morning.

The incident took place on a bus bound from Iyyappanthangal to Royapuram. A passenger recorded the incident on a mobile phone, and the video has since been widely circulated on social media.

Some of the students were travelling by hanging from the footboard. The conductor asked them to move inside the bus, but they allegedly refused and continued to travel on the footboard.

The students subsequently picked an argument with the conductor and allegedly assaulted him while the bus was moving. Though other passengers intervened, the students reportedly continued to attack him.

The incident took place near the Porur signal. After getting off the bus, some of the students allegedly removed their shirts and returned to attack the conductor.

Based on the video footage, police have identified and detained some of the students and are questioning them.

The incident has prompted the School Education Department to initiate appropriate action and investigation.

The department said the education officials concerned have been instructed to conduct an inquiry and take appropriate action based on the findings.

It also said counselling will be provided to the students involved, as well as other students, to help them understand how to respond to and handle similar situations in the future.