The Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report from Punjab government over the shocking death of a 13-year-old girl after she along with her mother were forced to jump out of a moving bus to escape getting molested.
The incident took place on Wednesday night on the Moga-Bhatinda highway, near Moga city. The 35-year-old woman, wife of a marginal farmer, was travelling with her daughter and 14-year-old son in an AC bus operated by Orbit Bus Service – owned by the family of Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal – when some youths started to harass the girl.
When her mother complained about the lewd comments to the driver and conductor of the bus, they laughed it off. The conductor, reportedly, joined the youth in the act.
The woman then asked the driver to stop the bus but the driver responded by further increasing the speed of the vehicle.
Fearing that they will be sexually assaulted, the woman and her daughter jumped off the bus. Her son was left on the bus.
Passersby took them to a nearby hospital. While the 14-year-old girl was declared brought dead, her mother is battling for her life.
The driver later abandoned the bus and fled with his accomplices. However, police managed to arrest the driver and the conductor this morning.
Talking to reporters, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal admitted that the bus in which the incident took place belonged to his company.
Describing the incident as unfortunate and saddening, Badal said the probe is on and assured that all the accused will be arrested soon.
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Sunil Kumar Jakhar and Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa, meanwhile, led a party protest in front of Badal’s residence.
Bajwa has demanded that a murder case be registered against Badal.
