Telangana RTC strike Driver dies after self-immolation attempt talks continue ex-gratia announced

    Hyderabad, Apr 24 (PTI) A Telangana RTC driver, who attempted suicide on April 23 during the strike by corporation employees, died at a hospital here in the early hours of Friday, even as the state government held day-long talks with staff unions to resolve the issue.
    Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old driver, set himself ablaze by pouring petrol at Narsampet in Warangal district when Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) employees were staging a protest on Thursday in support of their demands.
    They have been on an indefinite strike since April 22 over a series of demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.
    Goud suffered serious burns, was initially admitted to a state-run hospital in Warangal, and later shifted to a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment.

"He succumbed (to injuries) at about 1.30 am on Friday," a senior official said.
    The driver’s body was taken to his relative’s village, Muttojipet in Warangal district, for funeral rites.
    Tension prevailed in Muttojipet as his family members and RTC employees attempted to take the body to the Narsampet bus station, where he worked, to enable his colleagues to pay their last respects. However, police did not permit this, citing law-and-order concerns.
    This led to a deadlock before the funeral could proceed.
    Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the Telangana government for not allowing the body to be taken to the Narsampet bus station.
    Kumar, Minister of State (Home), visited Muttojipet village in Warangal district, where the funeral was held, and paid homage to Goud.
    “They (family members) want to take the body to the bus depot for five minutes. Is the RTC bus depot in Pakistan or Bangladesh? They are emotionally attached to taking the body there. The government is hurting sentiments and creating fear among RTC employees,” Kumar told reporters.
    He also expressed anger at the police for not allowing the body to be taken to the bus station and staged a protest, according to a release from his office.
    RTC employees and BJP workers attempted to take the mortal remains in an ambulance to Narsampet, but were stopped by the police.
    Later, after discussions with the police, the family members and RTC employees agreed to conduct the funeral in the village.
    Sanjay Kumar, stating he would abide by the family’s decision, left the village after the funeral was conducted there.
    Meanwhile, a committee of bureaucrats appointed by the government and a cabinet sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka held marathon talks with leaders of the employees’ Joint Action Committee (JAC), which continued late into the night.
    The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere, according to official sources.
    Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh, a house, and a government job would be provided to the kin of Goud.
    Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the employee’s death and conveyed deep condolences to the grieving family, according to the release.
    The RTC employees’ JAC announced an agitation programme from April 24 to 29, including silent marches and submission of memorandums to MLAs and other leaders.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)