Hassan : Tanker drivers and conductors have continued their stop work protest for the second day in protest against the suicide attempt of a driver allegedly due to harassment by petrol bunk owners.
Hundreds of tanker drivers and conductors of the HPCL petrol bunk near the Rajeev Engineering College bye pass road in the outskirts of the town, stopped work and participated in the protest outside the office of the bunk.
Raghu, a tanker driver had reportedly attempted suicide by consuming poison unable to face harassment of the bunk owner who used to abuse him and view him with suspicion everyday. He had even left behind a death note in this regard. It is learnt, Raghu who is admitted to a private hospital is battling for life. The agitators demanded justice in the case.
The protestors alleged that whenever they approached the manager for loading purposes of the tanker, they were looked down upon and abused. Another complaint was that the HPCL petrol bunk staff did not know Kannada and more over the drivers were supposed to bribe the staff there if they had to come out with the loaded tankers.
They further alleged that they had no job security and alleged the Hunasur petrol bunk owner and Bhairaveshwara petrol bunk owner Shivakumar were harassing them and warned that they will not withdraw their protest until justice is done.
Kannada Rakshana Vedike leaders, tanker drivers Puneeth, Anand, Pradeep, Ravi, Umesh, Sridhar and others took part in the protest.