Karnataka Bus Conductor Assaulted For Not Speaking Marathi, Sena UBT Cadres Blacken Buses In Pune

Belagavi: The long-standing dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka over Belagavi flared up again after a bus conductor was allegedly attacked following an argument with two students about speaking Kannada instead of Marathi.

The incident happened on Friday afternoon in a village in Belagavi. On Saturday, the situation escalated into a border issue, leading to a suspension of bus services between the two states. Karnataka stopped its bus services to Maharashtra from Belagavi, only running buses up to the Koganolli checkpoint at the border.

In response, Maharashtra also stopped its buses to Karnataka, limiting its services to Kagal taluk, the border area.

Pocso Case Filed Against Bus Conductor

The situation took a serious turn when the college student, who is a minor, filed a counter-complaint against the conductor, accusing him of sexual harassment. As a result, Hukkeri was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The arrest of the student and several others involved in the assault followed soon after, with three men and the minor being taken into custody.

State Tensions Escalate

The incident led to a rise in tensions over the Belagavi border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka. After the assault, both states stopped bus services. Karnataka suspended buses from Belagavi to Maharashtra, only allowing them to go up to the Koganolli border checkpoint. In return, Maharashtra limited its bus services to Kagal taluk, a border area between the two states.

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The situation also sparked violent protests. In Chitradurga, Karnataka, a Maharashtra bus driver was attacked, and his face was blackened by protestors. In Kolhapur, Maharashtra, workers from the Shiv Sena (UBT) party tied their flags to a Karnataka bus and painted it black, making tensions even worse between the two states.

Protests and Arrests

Kannada organizations held protests and demonstrations in response to the assault on the conductor. In addition, Karnataka Nava Nirman Sene members in Chitradurga blackened the face of a Maharashtra bus conductor and vandalized the bus. Meanwhile, in Belagavi, four individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack on the bus conductor, including the young man who initiated the dispute, Balu Gojagekar.

As of now, eight people have been arrested in connection with the various violent incidents in Chitradurga. Karnataka Police have made several arrests in relation to the assault on the conductor, as protests continue to rise over the dispute.

Impact on Bus Services

The dispute has brought cross-border bus services between the two states to a halt. Both Karnataka and Maharashtra have temporarily suspended operations until tensions ease. The situation continues to develop as authorities work to manage the unrest, and residents in both states express growing concern over the escalating violence and language-based disputes.