Moga bus horror sparks national outrage
Friday, 01/05/2015
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NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: The Moga molestation case that led to the death of 13-year-old girl Arshdeep Kaur and serious injuries to her mother Shinder Kaur — after they were pushed off a moving bus — sparked a national outrage on Thursday, with the Centre seeking a report from the Punjab government.
“We have sought a report from the state government that is expected anytime,” a top home ministry official said, adding that the ministry had conveyed to the Punjab government that they must take all appropriate steps for the treatment and security of the girl’s mother.
The case led to uproarious scenes and an adjournment in the Lok Sabha after Congress and AAP members trooped into the well of the House, denouncing the Akali Dal-BJP government for the law and order situation in the state.
As reports indicated that the bus belonged to the Orbit company, owned by the family of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, his daughter-in-law and union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal condemned the incident in the Lok Sabha, saying the police had taken swift action. “The state will ensure that the guilty are brought to book,” she said.
Raising the issue, Ravneet Singh Bittu and Chaudhary Santokh Singh of the Congress and Bhagwant Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party demanded that the Badals come clean on the issue. Mann alleged that Punjab had become a “safe haven” for criminals and that the “Badals had much explaining to do”.
Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Amarinder Singh denounced the incident saying it reflected the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. As the protests were unrelenting, the Speaker adjourned the House for five minutes.
Meanwhile, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati asked the higher authorities concerned to probe the incident as she felt that the Punjab government would not be able to investigate the case properly. “As per information, the bus belonged to a company owned by the CM’s family. In such a situation, the state government will not be able to provide any help to the sufferers,” Mayawati said.
‘PUSHED OFF BUS’
Police on Thursday said they had arrested all four accused in the incident. Addressing a press conference here, DGP Sumedh Saini said contrary to the earlier reports it was Sukhwinder Singh alias Pamma, the conductor; Gurdeep Singh alias Jimmy, the helper; and Amarjit Singh alias Dana, associate of the conductor and the helper; who pushed Shinder and her daughter out of the bus.
Saini said police had already arrested these accused, besides Ranjit Singh, driver, whose culpability was established. All four have been booked for murder, attempt to murder, outraging the modesty of women and for criminal conspiracy under Sections 302 (murder), 307, 354, 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3 of the Scheduled Caste (SC) Act.
The preliminary probe by Punjab Police revealed that Shinder and her daughter were pushed off the bus after being subjected to lewd gestures and remarks by the driver, conductor and a helper near Moga on Wednesday. While Arshdeep later succumbed to injuries, her mother is undergoing treatment at the civil hospital in Moga.
