A significant altercation erupted on Wednesday night in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, involving occupants of a Punjab-registered sports utility vehicle and the crew of two private buses en route to Delhi. The incident, which allegedly stemmed from a dispute over right of passage, resulted in multiple injuries and caused alarm among passengers and locals in the Thural tehsil.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the clash occurred around 8 p.m. near Bairghatta, where the driver of a Thar allegedly stopped his vehicle in front of the buses on a narrow road. This led to an argument that escalated into a physical confrontation. During the melee, the occupants of the Thar are reported to have attacked the bus crew with sharp weapons, leaving four individuals with serious injuries.
The injured individuals have been identified as bus drivers Raj Kumar, 32, from Baijnath in Kangra district, and Sunder Singh, 27, and Vijay Kumar, 38, both residents of Jogindernagar. Pravesh Kumar, 35, a conductor, also sustained injuries.
Following the assault, all injured parties received immediate medical attention at Thural hospital. They were subsequently referred to Tanda Medical College for further treatment due to the severity of their injuries. Reports suggest the accused individuals were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
Authorities at the Kangra district police station have confirmed the registration of a case and the arrest of three individuals in connection with the violence. Kangra Superintendent of Police Ashok Rattan stated that FIR No. 58/26 has been registered at Bhawarna Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act. The complaint was filed by Avinash, a bus conductor hailing from Chamba.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Balvinder Singh, 45, of Pathankot; Nishan Pal, 46, of Hoshiarpur; and Alish, 21, of Pathankot, all occupants of the Thar. The police were promptly alerted to the situation and dispatched teams from Bhawana Police Station and Thural Police Post to the scene. These teams successfully brought the situation under control.
The police have stated that all accused persons have been taken into custody and that further investigations into the incident are ongoing. The preliminary investigation suggests that the dispute over road passage was the primary trigger for the violent confrontation. The involvement of sharp weapons indicates a serious escalation of the initial argument.
This incident highlights the potential for road rage to quickly turn violent, especially in narrow or congested areas where right-of-way disputes can easily arise. The prompt response by the Himachal Pradesh Police has been crucial in apprehending the accused and initiating the legal process. The investigation will likely focus on establishing the sequence of events, the extent of injuries, and the role of each arrested individual in the assault. The use of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaced older criminal laws, signifies the application of the latest legal framework in dealing with such cases.
The presence of passengers on the buses added a layer of concern to the incident, with reports indicating that the violence caused panic. The authorities are expected to provide updates as the investigation progresses, including any further details regarding the motive or circumstances that led to the confrontation.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
