A 39-year-old mother in Bengaluru, who had borrowed Rs 80,000 from her younger sister to pay her children's school fees, lost the entire amount in a theft while boarding a BMTC bus. The incident occurred at the City Market BMTC stand on April 23.
Details of the Incident
Pankaja, a resident of A Narayanapura in Mahadevapura, was facing financial difficulties. She approached her sister Rathnamma for help. On the day of the incident, Pankaja was at KIMS Hospital visiting her cousin who had been in an accident. Rathnamma, who lives in Hanumanthanagar, invited her to her new home. There, Rathnamma suggested Pankaja take the cash for the school fees immediately rather than returning later. Pankaja placed the money in her vanity bag and also received a bag of rice from her sister.
Pankaja then took a BMTC bus from Hanumanthanagar to Victoria Hospital bus stop and walked to the City Market BMTC stand. She waited about 30 minutes for bus number 317 heading to Tin Factory. She last saw the cash a few minutes before the bus arrived. While boarding around noon, she was pushed by the crowd. After finding a seat, she noticed an elderly woman standing and gave up her seat. Soon after, she saw her vanity bag's zipper was open and discovered the Rs 80,000 missing.
Lack of Cooperation from Bus Staff
Pankaja told TOI that the BMTC bus driver and conductor were uncooperative when she asked them to stop the bus for 10 minutes to check for the thief. They also refused to show her the CCTV footage. A woman constable helped her file a complaint. Police informed her that the CCTV at the bus stand was not functioning. The City Market police have registered a case under BNS Section 303 (theft).
Plea for Time from School
Pankaja has approached the school where her elder son studies in class 4 and her younger son in LKG, requesting a month's extension to pay the fees.
