Finding fav conductor gone, BEST driver loses cool; drinks poison, attacks seniors with sickle

A BEST driver went berserk on Friday morning and attacked two senior collegues with a sickle after finishing a bottle of pesticide.

How did the event unfold?
Shankar Mane, 35, was furious when he arrived at the Mumbai Central BEST depot at six in the morning and found his favourite conductor assigned to some other bus. He got into an argument with two starters (officials who assign route, driver and conductor) Dilip Dongre and Ratan Shedge.

What do the police say
" Mane was upset because he did not get the conductor... He left the depot in a huff after arguing with Dongre and Shedge. He then bought a bottle of pesticide and a sickle from a shop in Byculla," an officer from the Nagpada police station said.

What happened next?
Mane returned to the depot at 9.15am and headed for the canteen. There he drank the pesticide and went straight to the starters' room. He attacked Dongre on the shoulder and Shedge on the arms and legs with the sickle.

Where are they being treated?
Hearing Dongre and Shedge's scream other employees rushed to the spot and overpowered Mane who collapsed soon after and strarted frothing in the mouth. All three were taken to Nair hospital.

Has Mane been booked?
"We have registered a case of attempt to murder and attempt to suicide against Mane. Investigations are on," S Jaykumar, DCP Zone III, said. "We will soon record their statements. Dongre and Shedge are now stable; but Mane is critical."

What did BEST say?
It issued a statement confirming the incident and saying a fact-finding committee is looking into the matter.