People look at a partially damaged Himachal Roadways at the ISBT in Amritsar on Saturday (March 22, 2025). Four buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) were damaged and defaced with slogans at the Amritsar bus stand by some miscreants.
| Photo Credit: PTI
“The windshields of four buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation were smashed at the bus stand here by some unidentified persons on Saturday (March 22, 2025),” police said.
Pro-Khalistan slogans were also found written on the buses.
The vehicles were parked at the parking lot of a bus stand here and nobody was present inside them when the incident took place. Police said an investigation in the matter was underway.
HRTC Divisional Manager Raj Kumar Pathak said the buses that were vandalised were supposed to go to Bilaspur, Dehra and Una. He said the department is in contact with HRTC bus staff and has informed higher authorities about this.
The incident came days after the windshield and some windows of an HRTC bus were damaged by two unidentified persons in Mohali’s Kharar.
These incidents came close on the heels of a row which had erupted after some locals in Himachal Pradesh removed flags bearing the image of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the bikes of a group of youths from Punjab.
To vent their anger, Dal Khalsa and Sikh Youth of Punjab activists pasted the image of Bhindranwale on HRTC buses, as well as some private ones, in Hoshiarpur.
Buses won’t be parked in Punjab in night until assured of safety: Himachal DyCM
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said Saturday (March 22, 2025) they will not be parked in Punjab at night until the AAP dispensation ensures their safety and that of passengers.
Talking to mediapersons here about such incidents, Agnihotri, who also holds the Transport portfolio, said the HRTC buses ply on 600 routes in Punjab.
“We think that until the Punjab government assures us of their safety, the buses will not be parked at night in Punjab. Buses would be brought back to Himachal borders and even some routes could be suspended,” he added.
“The HRTC is not a party to any dispute and targeting our buses is not right, this is state’s property but still such incidents are happening and we are in continuous touch with the Punjab government. The DGP has spoken to his Punjab counterpart in this regard,” he said.
“Some anti-social elements are doing mischief by damaging the property of the state and this will not be tolerated. FIRs are being registered (in Punjab) and arrests are being made. Safety of staff and passengers is our priority,” he added.
Speaking in the state assembly, Mr. Agnihotri had said it all started after an altercation between some youths from Punjab and Himachal at the Manikaran Barrier in Kullu district a few days back as the Special Area Development Authority imposed a fee of ₹50 on two-wheelers and ₹100 on four-wheelers.
“Those from Punjab opposed the fees arguing two-wheelers are not charged like this anywhere else in the country,” he said.
HRTC employees, especially drivers and conductors operating the routes to Punjab, are upset over repeated attacks and writing of pro-Khalistan slogans on their buses.
These incidents come close on the heels of a row after some locals in Himachal Pradesh removed flags bearing the image of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the motorbikes of a group of youths from Punjab.
Earlier on Wednesday (March 19, 2025), the HRTC suspended 10 routes in Punjab in the wake of attacks on government buses after the windshield of a Chandigarh-Hamirpur bus was broken near Kharar in Punjab by some attackers the day before.
No passenger was injured in the incident.
Published – March 23, 2025 05:11 pm IST
