A luxury sleeper bus traveling from Delhi to the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, came under violent attack in the Karnal district of Haryana. The incident occurred during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday when the commercial passenger vehicle pulled over at a roadside eatery for dinner. Two individuals, including a passenger on the bus and a restaurant worker, sustained injuries during the scuffle and vandalism.
Dispute at Nilokheri Highway Eatery
The long-distance bus, which regularly operates along the critical Srinagar-Delhi corridor, was carrying thirty-five passengers on its overnight journey. To allow commuters to have their late-night meal, the driver parked the vehicle outside an eatery located in Nilokheri, within Karnal district. By that point, more than half of the travelers had disembarked to enter the dining area, while roughly six to seven passengers remained seated inside the cabin.
Speaking upon his arrival in Ramban, bus driver Waqar Choudhary detailed how the altercation unfolded outside the establishment. He stated that several individuals were already gathered in the parking space as the vehicle arrived. Initially, one man began shouting from a distance, aggressively instructing the driver to remove the bus from the spot without offering any valid reason.
Targeted Slurs and Physical Altercation
According to driver Waqar Choudhary, the individual rapidly approached the driver side of the vehicle while hurling severe abuses, repeatedly labeling him a terrorist. The aggressor then attempted to tamper with the registration plate of the bus. Using a key, he struck the driver-side window glass, inflicting visible damage to the exterior structure.
The confrontation escalated further when the man barged inside the passenger compartment and initiated a physical assault on the driver. Choudhary stated that the attacker declared vehicles bearing Jammu and Kashmir registration plates would not be allowed to operate through the highway route. Despite the presence of frightened passengers, the assailant used profanities and tried to drag Choudhary out of the bus. Noticing the violence, the restaurant staff quickly stepped in, pulling the driver inside the safety of the hotel building to shield him from further harm.
Reinforcements Arrive on Motorcycles Leading to Stone Pelting
Following the intervention by the restaurant staff, the primary aggressor contacted acquaintances to escalate the confrontation. Within minutes, three to four additional men arrived at the premises on motorcycles. This group escalated the violence by launching stones at the parked vehicle, causing multiple window panes to shatter. Shattered glass was scattered near the Kurukshetra transit belt, creating panic among the commuters.
The stone-pelting and ensuing chaos left one traveler inside the bus wounded, alongside a restaurant worker who had tried to de-escalate the tension. Choudhary voiced grave concerns over the safety of transport workers, remarking that repeated encounters of this nature cause severe fear, intimidation, and harassment among commercial operators plying routes from the Valley. He also expressed disappointment regarding the lack of timely support from the local police when the distress began.
Political Intervention and Police Action
The highway violence caught administrative attention at the highest level in the region. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that his administration promptly raised the matter with the Haryana state government. In response to the communication, the Haryana administration provided assurances that swift, firm, and uncompromising legal action would be initiated against every perpetrator involved in the incident.
Acting on the complaint, Haryana Police confirmed that two individuals have been detained in Karnal district for their alleged involvement in the altercation and subsequent stone-pelting. Authorities stated that an investigation remains underway to track down any other individuals involved in the confrontation, affirming that public order on the interstate highway will be strictly maintained.
