Mohali, March 20 — Police have identified two suspects involved in vandalizing a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus on the Kharar flyover, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred around 6:45 pm on Tuesday when the suspects, driving an Alto car with a Punjab registration number, stopped the bus near Shivjot Enclave. According to bus driver Raj Kumar, 53, from HRTC’s Hamirpur depot, the two Sikh men signaled the bus to stop. “I assumed they were passengers, but they smashed the glass with sticks. Fortunately, no passenger was hurt,” he said. The bus, carrying 24 passengers, was heading to Himachal from Chandigarh.
Police tracked the suspects using CCTV footage. “We have zeroed in on them and are verifying whether the vehicle is registered under the genuine owner’s name. We’ve obtained vital leads and will arrest the accused soon,” said a police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Mohali Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) Manpreet Singh warned that no one would be allowed to disrupt the state’s peace. “The accused will be arrested soon,” he said.
The Kharar City police have booked the suspects under Sections 126(2), 324(4), 3(5), and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The incident comes amid rising tensions between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Recently, a group of Punjab youths displaying flags with Bhindranwale’s image on their bikes in Manali faced backlash from local residents.
