After fight, driver in Barwani tries to set bus carrying passengers on fire

In an incident that reminded of burning of a bus at Balsamud village on August 21, 2011, two bus drivers entered into a brawl over bus departure timings at Barwani bus stand on Tuesday afternoon.

In an incident that reminded of burning of a bus at Balsamud village on August 21, 2011, two bus drivers entered into a brawl over bus departure timings at Barwani bus stand on Tuesday afternoon.

After the brawl between drivers of private buses, plying under the Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (MPSRTC) permit between Barwani to Silawad, one of the drivers allegedly poured diesel inside the bus filled with passengers and attempted to set the bus on fire.

But policemen present at the bus stand intervened and evacuated the passengers. Both the drivers were arrested.

A similar incident took place on August 21, 2011, when a bus filled with passengers was set ablaze after pouring petrol by the driver and cleaner of another bus at Balsamud village. As many as 15 passengers including three women were charred to death and more than 20 were injured in the incident.

Giving information about the Tuesday incident, Barwani police station incharge KS Pawar said that the two buses belonging go Deepika Bus Service (MP 19 P0414) and Imran Bus (MP 46 P0353) were scheduled to depart at 11.35 am and 11.55 am respectively.

Bus drivers Ajay Mankar and Khaleel Patel started fighting inside the bus belonging to Deepika Bus Service over the departure timing.

Khaleel allegedly pushed a tin containing diesel with his leg pouring it on the bus floor. According to eyewitnesses, Khaleel also threatened to set ablaze the bus, but timely intervention by the police prevented any untoward incident.

Pawar said both the drivers have been arrested and the buses impounded. The police have also booked their cleaners and bus owners under section 283 of the IPC and the motor vehicle act.

Pawar said that the police will investigate how diesel was poured inside the bus as well as illegal presence of diesel cane inside the bus.

District collector Raveendra Singh and superintendent of police Tilak Singh said that they have taken the matter seriously.