A private sleeper bus traveling from Delhi to Srinagar was targeted with stones and bricks at an eatery in Haryana’s Karnal district on a Saturday night, resulting in shattered windows and an injury to an elderly passenger. The altercation has since prompted political responses, with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah calling for accountability, while local law enforcement attributed the violence to a disagreement over parking and giving way.
The confrontation occurred around 10.30 pm on October 17 when the Jammu and Kashmir-registered transport vehicle stopped at the Divine Star Dhaba in Nilokheri, near Butana. According to law enforcement authorities, an oral dispute flared up between a bus passenger and two local youths who were traveling in a car. The situation escalated quickly when the two individuals reportedly began hurling stones and bricks found in the vicinity at the bus, breaking multiple window panes. An elderly traveler suffered minor injuries from flying glass before the bus continued its journey northward.
The event drew sharp criticism online, with National Conference leader Imran Nabi Dar characterizing the episode as an alleged hate crime directed at Kashmiri travelers. He noted that the bus was transporting Kashmiri families, leaving those inside terrified and an older passenger hurt. In response to the circulating reports, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to social media to label the episode unfortunate and called on the Haryana administration and police forces to apprehend the perpetrators and implement preventative measures.
Despite social media speculation regarding the motives behind the attack, Haryana Police maintained that preliminary findings point toward a localized argument regarding vehicle positioning rather than a deliberate communal assault. Officials identified the two car occupants involved as Mohit and Sawan, residents of Yunispura village, and noted that alcohol had been consumed prior to the flare-up.
Authorities reported that neither the vehicle occupants nor the bus travelers had formally lodged a police complaint initially, prompting officers to take suo motu cognisance of the matter while reaching out to the passengers. Officials added that both parties had locally agreed on compensation for the bus damage, reiterating an appeal for public peace and confirming that strict measures would be enforced against those responsible.