Anil Kumble opts for BMCT bus amid Bengaluru bandh

Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble on Monday had to board a bus to home amid a strike called by private transporters in Bengaluru to voice various demands.

The retired cricketer, who took a BMCT bus to home, shared a snapshot from inside the bus on X (formerly Twitter) and captioned it with, "BMTC trip back home today from the airport."

Federation of Private Transporters in Karnataka has called for a day-long bandh in Bengaluru against the free travel scheme for women -- the Shakthi scheme and other demands. More than 30 private transport organisations and farmers’ associations have extended their support to the bandh call. Private transport operators argue that this initiative cuts into their profits.


The bandh has affected a wide range of private vehicles, including autos, taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles, and corporate buses, as they have all been forced off the road.

According to a report of IANS, office-goers and public, who depended on taxis and autos to commute to places, had to walk or depend on government buses.

"The passengers travelling to Bengaluru International Airport were worst affected as most of them prefer to travel by taxis. A driver of a taxi, who was commuting a passenger to the Bengaluru airport was stopped, beaten up and spat upon by the protesters. They also hit him and the vehicles with eggs."

As per the report, auto drivers, who were found taking people, were also waylaid and beaten up. The glass of the autos were broken and the vehicles damaged. The jurisdictional S.J. Park police in Bengaluru took three accused into custody in connection with an incident.

Many of the schools also remained closed due to the protests in Bengaluru. As school buses, and private transport were not available, parents had to take their children to the schools themselves.