Odisha Private Bus Owners' Association threatens indefinite strike

Bhubaneswar: Protesting the cancellation of permit of a bus in which a tribal girl was allegedly raped during Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association has threatened to launch state-wide strike from August 12, if the road permit of the bus is not restored.

The bus owners' association members claimed that the bus owner is not involved in the incident. The association has threatened for a strike if the permit cancellation order of the bus is not revoked at the earliest.

"The owner of the bus is cooperating with the administration. Neither the owner of the bus was involved nor the victim filed any complaint against him, but the route permit of the bus was cancelled. If the cancelation order is not revoked, we will launch a state-wide strike from August 12," said bus association secretary Debendra Sahoo.

On July 8, the minor girl was had boarded the bus from Cuttack to Puri. Though the girl was scheduled to get down at Maltipatpur, she fell asleep and woke up after the bus reached Puri bus stand.

After asking the girl to sleep inside the bus, the helper then allegedly raped her. Basing on the complaint filed by the girl, the accused helper was subsequently arrested.