A conductor of a private bus was allegedly set ablaze by a four member inebirated gang for insisting that they buy tickets and for forcing them to alight at Thazhayoothu in the district, police said today.
The conductor, who suffered 30 percent burns, has been hospitalised.
Two persons have been arrested today in connection with the incident that took place last night, police said.
They said the gang boarded the bus at Gangaikondan town and were forced to get off the bus by the conductor at Thazhayoothu as they had not purchased tickets.
They later chased the bus in an auto rickshaw and tried to set it ablaze, using petrol, despite the conductor warning them that there were passengers inside.
They then doused him with petrol and set him ablaze. Locals doused the flames and rushed him to a nearby hospital while the passengers overpowered two of the gang members and handed them over to the police.
Police said the duo have been involved in several criminal cases.
