Private bus crew returns 8 sovereigns gold to owner

Mangaluru: A private bus crew operating between State Bank and BC Road returned around eight sovereigns of gold after it was found during a routine last trip on June 4.

The conductor initially assumed the ornaments were artificial and kept them at his home. However, after the owner of the gold contacted bus owner NS Bawa, the valuables were handed over to the rightful owner from Montimar near Manchi on Friday night. The owners had initially searched for the missing gold at several places before finding Bawa’s contact details on a computerised bus ticket, which helped them trace the item.

Bawa said that several lost items found on buses are usually returned to their owners. However, he added that there have also been cases of mobile phones being lost or pick-pocketed. He also revealed that a gold item previously lost in the bus had remained in their possession for around seven years, and was handed over to its owner after it was advertised.

Bus conductor Ganesh Montapal from Panemangalore said that he found the valuables on the last seat near the door. He has been working in the profession for around 25 years. He said the chain looked identical to artificial gold. “After finding it, I kept it in the luggage space of the bus. Later, I remembered about it, and felt that if somebody could take it, it is my responsibility and took it home and kept it. The next day, I received a call,” he said, adding that even though we have problems, it is not right to keep such items.