Bus driver death: Union goes on protest, seeks Rs 1 cr for kin

Since the death of Punjab Roadways bus driver Jagjit Singh (41) in a road rage incident with a Pik-Up driver at Kurali bus stand on Tuesday, members of the Punjab Roadways Union have been on a warpath against the department, seeking the compensation of Rs 1 crore for his family and a job for a family member.

Though Jagjit hails from Amritsar, he had driven the bus from Jalandhar depot on the fateful day. For the same reason, the members of the union from Jalandhar have been seeking claims for his family here. Last evening, 200 buses of the Jalandhar depot were parked in the compound as they all came together to show solidarity for the family. Since the family has not performed the last rites of the driver, they brought his body to the workshop depot and started a massive protest.

The employees, led by president Vikramjit Singh, had announced that they would take his body to Rama Mandi at 5 pm and block the highway to lodge the protest. The bus stand area, including the connecting flyovers, were sealed by the police to prevent any movement of the employees towards the highway. To handle the situation, a meeting of the police and administrative staff was held with the roadways depot manager. The union kept waiting for the outcome of the strike till 5 pm.

On being told that there was no outcome of the meeting in the favour of the family of the deceased, the employees' union raised slogans against the government and the police. They announced that they were heading to Rama Mandi Chowk to block the highway but the police managed to contain them outside the Roadways depot.

Vikramjit Singh announced, "If no decision is made in favour of Jagjit Singh's family by tomorrow, we shall take his body to bypoll-bound Tarn Taran. We shall keep the body outside the residence of the Transport Minister and protest there."

Brother of the deceased and mason Balwinder Singh also joined the protest. The employees said Jagjit had two children aged four and nine. "His kids and wife were dependent on him. He had been in service for 12 years. The government must step in to support them in this time of need", Chanan Singh, senior vice-president of the union, adding, "If the government does not pay a heed to our demands, the buses in all 27 depots of the Punjab Roadways would be stranded.