The BEST Workers’ Union has strongly condemned the violent assault on conductor Balu Suryavanshi, who was attacked while on duty on June 11, and has demanded immediate action against the assailants along with enhanced safety measures for all frontline staff.

In a formal letter submitted to the General Manager of the BEST Undertaking on Sunday, union general secretary Shashank Rao voiced grave concern over the rising number of violent incidents targeting BEST employees. He criticized the administration for failing to take concrete steps despite repeated complaints, stating that the safety of conductors and drivers continues to be ignored.

According to details shared by the union, the assault took place at around 7:40 pm on AC bus route number 367, which was traveling from Kurla East Bus Depot to Gadkari Khana. A passenger reportedly became aggressive during an argument with conductor Suryavanshi near Swastik Chambers. Though the passenger got off the bus, he allegedly returned minutes later with a group of accomplices in an auto-rickshaw and forcibly re-boarded the vehicle before physically attacking the conductor.

Suryavanshi sustained a serious head injury in the attack and began bleeding heavily. The bus driver immediately rushed him to a hospital, where he received emergency treatment, including multiple stitches.

The union revealed that the onboard CCTV system was not functioning at the time of the attack, hampering efforts to identify the perpetrators. They have demanded that BEST authorities obtain and review footage from nearby surveillance cameras in the Swastik Chambers area to aid the investigation.

“This is not an isolated incident,” Rao stated in the letter. “Such attacks on our staff are becoming more frequent, and the administration’s inaction has emboldened miscreants. We demand swift and strict legal action against the attackers, as well as permanent security arrangements for bus crew members.”

The union has called for an urgent meeting with BEST management to discuss comprehensive safety protocols and preventive measures. Rao emphasized the need to restore confidence among staff by ensuring their dignity and safety while on duty.