Roadways bus driver attacked at Sahni village

Around eight youths forcibly allegedly stopped a Punjab Roadways bus going from Ludhiana to Delhi at Sahni village near Sahnewal on Thursday and pelted stones on its windscreen, injuring its driver. Earlier, one of the suspects, who was driving another vehicle, had an altercation with the bus driver when the bus started from Dugri chowk.

In an open show of hooliganism, the suspects, who followed the bus and reached Sahni village, have allegedly stopped the bus filled with passengers and threatened the driver and the conductor with dire consequences after entering the vehicle. Later, they pelted stones on the windscreen of the bus due to which the driver, Karamjit Singh, suffered injury on his face. He was taken to the Civil Hospital, Sahnewal, from where he was referred to the ESI Hospital, Ludhiana, where he is undergoing treatment.

The injury caused to the driver led to a panic among the passengers.

The passengers said one of the suspects, who was driving another vehicle, abused the driver, who, in turn, objected to it when the bus started from the Dugri chowk.

“Later, he along with other suspects, who were less in number, were joined by their companions when the bus reached Sahnewal. Following which, they attacked the bus at the village,” they said.

Jagmail Singh, a passenger from Nidampur in Sangrur, who was going towards Pipli, said he was sitting near the driver’s seat when the incident occurred. “The driver was not at fault. He has been victimised for no reason,” he added.

Some of the passengers were shocked due to the incident. The hooliganism by the youths led to widespread resentment among onlookers.

Roadways staff blocked the national highway and staged a dharna, demanding arrest of the suspects by the Sahnewal police. Traffic came to a complete halt as the roadways staff refused to lift the dharna till their demand is met. On assurance by the Sahnewal police, the protesters lift the protest. However, they warned to resume the protest in front of the Sahnewal police station on Friday if the latter failed to act in the matter.

The dharna lasted for about an hour which led to chaos on the road. The police had a tough time managing the situation. Commuters on the highway were forced to take link roads, which further aggravated the situation for residents of periphery areas.

Sahnewal SHO Jagdev Singh said the statement of the victim was being recorded and a case would be registered as per the same.