In West Bengal’s Kolkata and Cooch Behar cities, RTC (Road Transport Corporation) bus drivers were seen wearing helmets while on duty on Wednesday.
Almost all government bus drivers were observed driving buses with helmets on.
Several videos related to this have gone viral on social media. Netizens are expressing surprise, questioning why helmets, mandatory for bikers, are being worn by bus drivers.
When local media representatives inquired with the drivers, they explained that the government had instructed them to wear helmets. Before starting their duty, senior officials personally provided them with helmets.
Recently, a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata was brutally raped and murdered, an incident that sparked nationwide protests.
On Tuesday, students held a massive protest rally in Kolkata. When the police attempted to stop the rally, it turned violent, leading to injuries on both sides.
The police used water cannons, tear gas, and even fired shots in the air to disperse the protesters, resulting in injuries to several students.
In response to the police’s actions, the BJP called for a 12-hour Bengal bandh (shutdown) on Wednesday, urging the public to participate voluntarily.
The government took this bandh call seriously and instructed officials to ensure it failed.
Orders were issued for all government employees, except those on leave or in emergency situations, to report to work.
At the same time, anticipating possible attacks on RTC drivers due to the bandh, the government suggested that they wear helmets while on duty. Consequently, senior officials distributed helmets to the RTC drivers at the bus depots.