Day after mishap, BRTS driver held for drug intake

AMRITSAR: Jaspal Singh, the driver of the BRTS bus, which hit the car of Durgiana Temple Management Committee president Ramesh Chander Sharma on Sunday, has been arrested as he was under the influence of drugs when the mishap took place, the police said on Monday.

Durgiana Temple Management Committee president Ramesh Chander Sharma and his driver had to be admitted to the Civil Hospital after Sunday’s mishap. File photo

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 1

Jaspal Singh, the driver of the BRTS bus, which hit the car of Durgiana Temple Management Committee president Ramesh Chander Sharma on Sunday, has been arrested as he was under the influence of drugs when the mishap took place, the police said on Monday. The mishap left Sharma, along with his driver Ram Lal, injured.

Investigating officer Rajesh Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspector, Civil Lines police station, said the driver resorted to rash driving after an argument with Ram Lal, the car driver. The probe suggests that the bus driver used to consume intoxicants. The police got the bus driver’s dope test conducted which turned out to be positive. Therefore the police have added relevant sections of the NDPS Act to the FIR registered against him.

The impact of the collision was such that a major portion of the car, after being hit from he rear side, got thrust into another BRTS bus ahead. The bus driver, Jaspal Singh, fled after the mishap only to be caught later.

Ramesh Chander Sharma stated to the police that he was going to the Durgiana Temple in his car when the BRTS bus brushed past his vehicle near the railway station. This led to an argument between Jaspal Singh and Ram Lal. Sharma said the bus driver used abusive and threatening language. He appeared to be under the influence of drugs. A few minutes later, they proceeded towards the temple, but near Queenz road the same bus hit their car from the rear. Another car was also hit by the same bus.

Initially, a case under Sections 279, 337, 427 and 506 of the IPC was registered against bus driver Jaspal Singh. Later, relevant sections under the NDPS Act were added.The police finding raises a question mark over the recruitment of drivers by the BRTS management.

The case

A car, in which Durgiana Temple Management Committee president Ramesh Chander Sharma, along with his driver, was travelling, was hit from the rear by a BRTS bus on Sunday.
Sharma and his driver Ram Lal sustained injuries.
Before the mishap, bus driver Jaspal Singh and Ram Lal had an argument when the bus brushed past latter’s car. A little later, the same bus hit the car.
The police got Jaspal’s dope test conducted which turned out to be positive, so he has been arrested and relevant sections have been slapped on him.