Two held for vandalising HRTC bus in Kharar

The police arrested two youths allegedly involved in the vandalism of an Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus running between Chandigarh and Hamirpur bound on March 18 evening.

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The arrested accused have been identified as Rupnagar resident Hardeep Singh and Fazilka resident Gagandeep Singh. Both had ben residing in Mohali for the past some time and were arrested from Mohali, cops said. One of the accused is a taxi driver and the other is an auto driver. Cops have also impounded the car used by them.

Sharing further information, Kharar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Karan Singh Sandhu said, “The duo has been arrested under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 126 (2), 324 (4), 351 (2) and 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the City Kharar police station.”

“They said they had some incidents in the past and after seeing videos of recent incidents they got agitated and damaged the vehicles. They have been counseled and the videos taken note of,” he added.

Following the incidents of vandalism, tensions had mounted between the two states and 10 routes of the HRTC to the Hoshiarpur were put on hold for the time being.

Two masked car-borne persons had vandalised the Chandigarh-Hamirpur bus near Shivjot Enclave in Kharar on March 18 evening, leaving the passengers in a state of shock.

The incident was seen as a retaliatory move in protest against the Himachal Pradesh Police action against radical elements following display of flags and posters near Manikaran in Kullu.

The car-borne youths stopped the public transport vehicle and vandalised it in full public view before fleeing the spot. One of the youths attacked the front windshields of the bus while the other remained seated in their car.

The passengers were shifted to another bus to continue their journey. The police later took the vehicle in their possession and began an investigation.