HRTC driver suicide case: Traders’ body demands suspension of manager

Bhupender Singh, district president, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITUs) and former District Council member, has demanded the immediate suspension of the regional manager (RM) of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) Vinod Kumar, who was posted at the Dharampur depot in Mandi district, following the alleged suicide by a driver of the HRTC, Sanjay Kumar, a few days ago.

After the incident Vinod Kumar was removed from the Dharampur depot and attached in the divisional office of the HRTC in Mandi by the department.

In a video which went viral on social media, the driver Sanjay Kumar had alleged harassment by the RM, “which forced him to take the extreme step”.

The HRTC authorities have, meanwhile, initiated an official inquiry in the matter, but CITU leader Bhupender Singh and Narender Saini, president of the Devbhumi Himachal Paryavaran Rakshak Manch, demanded an FIR in the case to ensure fair a probe.

They said it was an unfortunate incident in which the family of the driver lost its bread earner, adding that it was a very sensitive case which needed a fair probe.

Bhupender Singh claimed the RM had filed chargesheets against 85 drivers and conductors at the Dharampur depot, including for minor mechanical faults like broken wheel nuts or brake failures, leading to wage cuts.

According to Singh, several employees have complained about the RM’’s “authoritarian behaviour”.