BJP Functionary Arrested for Assaulting School Students on MTC Bus
Chennai, India – In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary S. Ranjana Nachiyar, 39, was arrested by the Mangadu police on Saturday. The arrest came after a video of Nachiyar stopping a Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus and assaulting school students went viral on social media platforms.
The incident occurred on the evening of November 2, when an MTC bus traveling between Saidapet and Kundrathur was filled with passengers, including school students in their uniforms. Nachiyar, who was driving her car, noticed some students dangerously travelling on the bus’s footboard and decided to intervene.
VIDEO | BJP functionary Ranjana Nachiyar arrested by police for allegedly assaulting school students in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/6N6PldD2Ra
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 4, 2023
Approaching the bus near the Porur traffic signal, Nachiyar overtook it and abruptly parked her car in the middle of the road. She then proceeded to berate the bus driver for neglecting the safety of the students and also scolded the conductor who sat at the rear of the bus. Shockingly, Nachiyar took matters into her own hands and physically assaulted a few students who were flouting safety regulations by traveling on the footboard. She demanded that they immediately disembark from the bus.
The bus driver, R. Saravanan, aged 48, lodged a complaint with the police, accusing Nachiyar of obstructing him from performing his duties and publicly abusing him. Acting upon his complaint, the Mangadu police registered a case against Nachiyar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including assault, criminal force, and public nuisance. They also invoked a provision of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Taking swift action, the police, led by Assistant Commissioner Rajiv Prince Aaron and women inspectors, apprehended Nachiyar at her residence in Balakrishna Nagar, Gerugambakkam. She was subsequently taken to the All Women Police Station in Poonamallee.
This incident has sparked a heated debate, with some condemning Nachiyar’s actions as vigilante justice, while others applaud her for standing up against the perceived negligence of the bus authorities. Authorities are reminding citizens that it is important to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and instead report such incidents to the police for appropriate action.
The BJP has yet to release an official statement regarding the arrest of their party functionary. Meanwhile, netizens have expressed their concerns about the safety of school children on public transportation systems and called for stricter measures to be put in place to avoid similar incidents in the future.
The police investigation into the matter is ongoing, and Nachiyar will face legal consequences for her actions as per the due process of law.
