MSRTC Bus Attack: Maharashtra Suspends State Bus Services to Karnataka Amid Tensions

Maharashtra's Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has announced the suspension of bus services operated by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to Karnataka following an assault on one of their buses in Chitradurga, Karnataka.  The incident occurred on Friday night when pro-Kannada activists attacked a Bengaluru-Mumbai MSRTC bus. The bus driver, Bhaskar Jadhav, was assaulted and had his face blackened. 

प्रवासी व कर्मचाऱ्यांच्या सुरक्षितेसाठी कर्नाटक राज्यातील बस फेऱ्या रद्द..!

काल रात्री कर्नाटक राज्यातील चित्रदुर्ग येथे महाराष्ट्र राज्य मार्ग परिवहन महामंडळाच्या चालकांना कर्तव्यावर असताना काही समाजकंटकांनी धक्काबुक्की करून काळे फासले. ही घटना अत्यंत दुर्दैवी असून त्याचा आम्ही…

— Pratap Baburao Sarnaik (@PratapSarnaik) February 22, 2025

Minister Sarnaik condemned the attack and stated that bus services will remain suspended until the Karnataka government offers assurances regarding the safety of Maharashtra's transport staff and passengers.

Last night, some miscreants beat up Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) drivers while they were on duty in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

As per the directions of Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, ST buses going from Kolhapur to Karnataka state have been cancelled for…

— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2025

Also Read: 'Losing Rs 3 Crores Daily’: Pratap Sarnaik Holds Ticket Concessions Responsible for MSRTC's Financial Troubles

Abhijit Bhosale, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of MSRTC, confirmed that all state transport buses from Kolhapur to Karnataka are on hold indefinitely as per the minister’s directive.