from oheraldo.in Women offload unruly passenger mid way
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 2 – It is definitely the aam aurat ka zamana! No, we are not joking or being sarcastic, for this is what happened on Tuesday night while traveling from Panjim to Margao in the KTC shuttle at 8.20 pm. It took three ladies to stop a mini shuttle bound for Margao at Cortalim and offload an unruly passenger virtually claiming that 'one could do anything in Goa and get away with it.' And he was shown how highly mistaken his assumptions were as it was this that landed him into deep trouble. According to eye-witnesses, the passenger under the influence of alcohol was creating nuisance at the KTC bus stand in Panjim itself while the mini bus was stationed for passengers between 8 to 8.15 pm. The moment the bus set out from the depot, this passenger ignited a cigarette and dropped live matchsticks on the deck of the bus. To make matters worse, he kept puffing out smoke towards the seats ahead and live ash behind, which was strongly objected to by lady passengers. After a brief hue and cry, he was forced to throw out the cigarette. But the calm was short lived. The same passenger ignited another cigarette at Agassaim and behaved in the same fashion challenging his co-travellers who once again raised a hue and cry. Shamefully, the male passengers demonstrated no chivalry and in fact sympathized with the intoxicated passenger. Surprisingly even the KTCL driver turned a deaf ear to the assistance called for by passengers and stopped the bus only after passengers threatened to call, and in fact made a call to a senior KTCL official. It was only then that the driver halted the vehicle before Zuari bridge. The drunk passenger thereafter realized that he was overpowered and feared a thrashing from the women passengers. He quietly made his way out and vanished into the shadows of darkness. Later KTCL officials took up the matter seriously and warned the driver of the vehicle to be cautious. Yes, Goans may be sossegad or tolerant when needed but they would act when tolerance is tested to the hilt, a passenger commented pointing out that this too happens in Goa and it only shows that you can't get away with bad behaviour or 'wrong assumptions' in Goa.
