- Minor dispute over giving way on a narrow road escalates into brutal knife attack and aerial firing; four injured, accused held with weapon and drugs.
Punjab Newsline | Kangra
A shocking incident of road rage unfolded in Kangra district on Wednesday night when a group of young men from Punjab attacked a private Volvo bus staff and passengers with knives, leaving four people seriously injured. The attackers also reportedly fired shots in the air, creating panic in the area.
The incident took place near Bairghatta, close to Thural, around 8:30 PM. According to reports, the Volvo bus was en route from Bir (Kangra) to Delhi when it encountered a narrow single-lane stretch. A Mahindra Thar carrying the accused youths approached from behind and demanded side to overtake.
Due to the narrow road, the bus driver could not immediately give way, which allegedly enraged the Thar occupants. The youths then overtook the bus and blocked its path, forcing it to stop.
As soon as the bus halted, the accused forcibly entered the vehicle and began abusing the driver and conductor. The situation quickly escalated into violence, with the attackers pulling out knives and assaulting the bus staff and two passengers who tried to intervene. The driver and conductor suffered multiple stab wounds to their abdomen and back, collapsing on the spot in a pool of blood.
The accused have been identified as Balvinder Singh (45) from Pathankot, Nishan Pal (46) from Hoshiarpur, and Alish (21) from Pathankot, all residents of Punjab.
Injured in the Attack
The injured include driver Sundar Singh (Mandi), Raj Kumar (Kangra), Vijay Kumar (Mandi), and conductor Pravesh Kumar (Kangra). Based on a statement by another conductor, Avinash (Chamba), police have registered a case. The injured were initially taken to the Community Health Centre in Thural, from where Raj Kumar and Vijay Kumar were referred to Tanda Medical College due to their critical condition.
Police recovered a narcotic substance (chitta) from Thar
Acting swiftly, teams from Thural outpost and Bhawarna police station set up checkpoints and managed to arrest all three accused a short distance from the scene. The police also seized the black Mahindra Thar (without number plate), along with the knife used in the attack and a pistol allegedly used for aerial firing. During the search, police recovered a narcotic substance (‘chitta’) from the vehicle. An FIR has been registered, and further investigation is underway. The incident has raised serious concerns over rising cases of road rage and public safety on hilly routes.