Ludhiana: A speeding bus of Dabwali Transport, a company owned by the Badal family, today crushed two members of a family to death on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur highway near Mullanpur.
The victims, Hardev Singh (61) and his son Harmeet Singh (24), were on a motorcycle.
The bus, which was on its way to Bathinda, was torched by furious passengers, who accused the driver of being negligent.
Both the driver and conductor fled after the incident.
The passengers alleged that their pleas to the driver not to be rash fell on deaf ears. “We warned him that reckless driving could lead to an accident. But he paid no attention,” said a passenger.
The victims were welders. Harmeet Singh, who was riding pillion, was carrying tools. The bike was hit from the rear.
Ajay Raj, DSP, said: “The victims were rushed to the DMC Hospital, where doctors declared them dead”.
The bus driver has been booked.
Ravneet Singh Bittu, Member of Parliament from Ludhiana; Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly; HS Phoolka, Aam Aadmi Party leader, and several other leaders rushed to the accident site and expressed solidarity with the protesters, who blocked the road and raised slogans against what they termed “road terrorism” by the ruling family.
Darshan Singh Shivalik, MLA from Gill, faced a hostile crowd. Jaspinder Singh Grewal, general secretary, Small-Scale Bus Operators Association, has condemned the incident.
