Thiruvananthapuram: Interstate bus operators have called off their indefinite strike in Kerala against the Motor Vehicle Department. The decision to call off the strike was taken by the  Interstate Bus Owners Association of Kerala in a meeting with transport secretary. Almost 400 buses had gone on an indefinite strike since June 24. 

Bus association leaders said in the meeting that they are not against the action against buses violating norms, but transport officials should not harass law-abiding bus operators. The association has also requested the department not to accuse all private bus operators just because one of them  was caught for wrongdoing.

The bus operators also said that they would maintain a proper list of passengers and set up a redressal forum to address their grievances. Meanwhile, Operation Night Riders launched by Motor Vehicle Department to identify interstate buses, which run without a permit and other norms, would continue. The interstate bus operators started the indefinite strike protesting the Motor Vehicles Department’s Operation Night Riders.

Operation Night Riders was an initiative undertaken following the attack on three passengers by Kallada Travels staff. On April 21, two passengers travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Bengaluru were thrashed by the staffers of the company. The staffers allegedly even threw them out of the bus.