‘Shouldn’t have happened’: J&K CM Omar Abdullah demands strict action after Srinagar-bound bus attacked in Haryana
New Delhi: A Delhi-to-Srinagar passenger bus bearing a Jammu and Kashmir registration number was pelted with stones on Saturday night outside a highway eatery in Nilokheri, Karnal. The attack shattered several windowpanes of the vehicle and left a passenger injured, prompting an immediate intervention by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The incident took place around 10:30 pm outside the Divine Star restaurant along the highway. According to initial reports, an argument broke out after the bus brushed against a parked car on the restaurant premises, leading to a heated exchange between the occupants of both vehicles that quickly escalated into stone-pelting.
Hearing the loud commotion and breaking glass, staff from the restaurant rushed outside to intervene. While reports initially suggested that the two sides reached an informal compromise shortly after the altercation, the police stepped in following a formal complaint by the eatery owner on Sunday, taking two men into custody and impounding their car.
Police action follows restaurant owner’s complaint
Giving details of the incident, Butana Station House Officer Vipin Kumar said the bus was parked at the dhaba when it touched a car, triggering a verbal altercation between the drivers, who were suspected to be under the influence of alcohol. DSP Rajiv Kumar stated that the car was driven by a youth named Mohit, accompanied by his associate Sawan.
Following the argument, Mohit allegedly smashed the bus windows, injuring an onboard passenger. DSP Kumar confirmed that although both sides had initially settled the dispute mutually, a case was subsequently registered based on a complaint lodged by the restaurant operator, leading to the detention of both Mohit and Sawan.
Omar Abdullah calls for action; contrasting claims emerge
The matter gained wider attention after a user named Imran Nabi Dar posted a video on social media platform X on Sunday morning. In the video, a passenger claimed the bus had not hit any car, alleging unprovoked stone-pelting that left bricks inside the bus, damaged its registration plate, and injured an elderly traveller on the nose. The passenger also alleged a lack of immediate support at the site. These specific claims, however, remain subject to official verification.
Taking note of the footage, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah publicly condemned the incident on X, tagging Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and the Haryana Police. Abdullah wrote, “This unfortunate incident shouldn’t have happened. Hope the Haryana government and police will catch the culprits and take steps to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.”