Chandigarh: A 13-year-old Dalit girl died after she and her mother were pushed out of a running bus for protesting against their molestation. The news has sparked outrage across Punjab, with the opposition demanding action against the ruling Badal family that owns the bus.
The incident took place on Wednesday evening near Moga town. The bus belongs to Orbit Aviation Company which is owned by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife and union minister Harsimrat Badal.
The victim, Arshdeep Kaur, was declared brought dead at the Moga civil hospital while her mother, Shinder Kaur, was admitted in a serious condition.
Shinder Kaur told the media from her hospital bed that they complained about the molestation to the bus driver but he mocked at them and started speeding the vehicle. She alleged that they (daughter and mother) were pushed out of the moving bus by the molesters.
Punjab Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini said in Moga that three people, including the driver, conductor and cleaner of the bus, were arrested. The accused have been booked for murder, attempt to murder, molestation and crime done with common intention. The case was registered against the bus conductor Sukhwinder Singh and helper Gurdeep Singh.