JALANDHAR – Former Akali Dal minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur’s wife Nirmaljit Kaur was injured in an accident involving her vehicle and a bus belonging to Dabwali Transport Company, owned by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s family, at Rail Majra village near Balachour in Nawanshahr.
Nirmaljit was travelling to Chandigarh in an Innova (Pb08CR 6804) when it was allegedly hit from behind by the bus (PB03X2700) —on its way from Pathankot to Chandigarh — around 7:30. Her driver Sohan Singh and gunman Gurmukh too sustained minor injuries and the trio was discharged after first aid at a nearby hospital. Phillaur confirmed his wife, driver and the gunman suffered minor injuries.
After hitting the Innova, the bus allegedly rammed into another car (PB07AD 3363) in which the family of an IAS officer was travelling. The family members escaped unhurt, though both the cars were badly damaged.
The bus next hit two motorcyclists, Lovkesh and Vikas of Tajowal village in Balachour, who fell off the road but did suffer any injury.
As word spread, Congress workers, headed by Balachour unit president Rajwinder Singh Lucky, reached the accident spot and blocked the Ropar-Balachour highway for over an hour. They demanded that the bus be impounded and a case registered against its driver. It was only after the police took the bus to Kathgarh police station that the protest was called off.
Balachour Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Digvijay Kapil refused to comment when asked whether the bus had been impounded. “Contact the SHO (station house officer) concerned,” he replied.
Kathgarh Station House Officer Daljit Singh said that the bus had been parked at the police station due to security reasons. He said they were yet to register a case as no complainant had approached them.
