Berhampur: Operators of 24 private buses plying on the Berhampur-Palasa, Berhampur-Paralakhemundi and Berhampur-Gunupur routes threatened indefinite strike from February 5 demanding stringent action against the culprits, who had beaten up driver Kailash Kumar Karjee.

The buses were off the road on Thursday as a token protest.

Prabhakar Guru of Hendi Sahi of Paralakhemundi said he and most of the residents of Paralakhemundi usually travelled to Berhampur by bus. "If the private bus would remain off the road indefinitely, we would be in much trouble," he said.

Kailash has lodged a complaint at Gosaninuagaon police station here against eight youths and mentioned the registration number of the car in which three of them were travelling. "When three youths were inside the car, others came on four bikes," he said.

"The car, in which they were travelling, dashed against my bus near Garabandha when we were on way to Berhampur from Paralakhemundi on Wednesday. Then the youths beat me up near Haldiapadar. They also threatened to attack all the drivers plying on the routes connecting Berhampur to Palasa, Paralakhemundi and Gunupur. We are feeling insecure. The drivers generally spend nights inside the bus on roadside," said Kailash.

The staff members of all the 24 buses who marched to the police station demanded immediate arrest of the youths.

Gosaninuagaon police station inspector-in-charge Kulamani Sethi said: "We would not disclose the names of the culprits as it may hamper the investigation process."

"However, we have traced out the name and house of the car driver, who is a resident of Berhampur. We are constantly tracking the culprits, who had allegedly beaten the driver. I think all of them have fled Berhampur."