Image Credit: Vijaya Karnataka
Belagavi–Maharashtra KSRTC bus services halted after ‘Jai Maharashtra’ stickers pasted on buses
Belagavi
Bus services from Belagavi to Maharashtra were temporarily stopped on Monday after “Jai Maharashtra” stickers were found pasted on Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses. The incident created tension in the border district and led to police action.
According to local reports, activists of Shiv Sena allegedly pasted stickers carrying the slogan “Jai Maharashtra” on KSRTC buses operating in Belagavi. The stickers appeared on the buses on Monday morning, prompting immediate reactions from the public. Several passengers and locals questioned how such stickers were affixed on Karnataka-owned buses and demanded action.
Following the incident, KSRTC stopped its Belagavi–Maharashtra services. Buses that usually operate from Belagavi towards cities and towns in Maharashtra were withheld, resulting in inconvenience to travellers. Passengers who had arrived early at the bus stand for their journeys were forced to wait without clarity on when services would resume.
Police detained a few individuals in connection with the incident. Reports said those taken into custody included some Kannada activists as well as a few people associated with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). Their exact role in the incident is being verified.
The situation at the Belagavi bus stand remained tense for some time as people gathered after seeing the stickers on the buses. Many locals expressed anger and said such acts would disturb harmony in the region. Authorities later removed the stickers from the vehicles.
KSRTC officials said services were stopped due to the tense atmosphere and would resume after assessing the situation. Police have taken up further investigation and increased vigilance in the area to avoid escalation.
The incident once again highlighted the sensitivity of linguistic and regional issues in the Belagavi region, where matters connected to Kannada–Marathi identity often trigger strong public reactions.