The bus, operated by Jai Bharat Travels (UP80 FT 6416), was carrying passengers from Morena towards Khatu Shyam. According to passengers and the bus operator, the attackers overtook the bus, blocked its path, and forcibly dragged out the driver, 42-year-old Vijay Parmar, before launching a violent assault.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers continued beating the driver despite repeated pleas from passengers, including women, who begged them to stop. A female passenger was heard questioning the assault, saying the driver had done nothing wrong and warning that the journey would be stranded without him. The assailants, reportedly intoxicated, ignored the appeals.
Bus owner Dinesh Sikarwar said he alerted the police immediately after receiving information about the attack, but no patrol reached the location. By the time help arrived, the attackers had fled. The injured driver was later brought back to Morena, and the bus was parked at the Civil Lines police station around 2 am. Passengers were sent onward in another vehicle.
According to Sikarwar, eight habitual offenders from Janakpur village were involved in the attack. He named Bhanu Gurjar, Shyam Veer Gurjar, Shriram Gurjar, Manto Gurjar, Gurudayal Gurjar and three others as the assailants, alleging that such groups routinely target legally operated buses on the highway.
“This is organised intimidation,” Sikarwar said. “I have been running my bus legally for 20 years. My permits and taxes are valid till March 2026. Illegal operators, who have no permits, are attacking us openly. Police only register minor assault cases and avoid adding robbery charges, which is why these criminals have no fear.”
A passenger secretly recorded a video of the assault, which shows the attackers using sticks and bats while the bus remained stranded on the highway.
After the incident, Civil Lines police station in-charge Udaybhan Yadav could not be reached for comment. Morena CSP Deepali Chanderia said she had not been informed by the local police. “I will be able to clarify only after seeking details,” she said, raising questions about internal communication and response failures.
With repeated attacks on public transport and allegations of police inaction, concerns are growing over passenger safety on NH-44, a key route in the Chambal region. Transport operators have warned that if decisive action is not taken soon, services may be disrupted, further affecting commuters.
