Two people were injured after stones were allegedly thrown at a Jammu and Kashmir-bound bus during a confrontation over parking at a dhaba in Haryana’s Karnal district, police said. Two Karnal residents have been rounded up for questioning and the car involved has been taken into custody.
The incident took place around 11.30 pm on Saturday in the parking area of Divine Star Dhaba, Inspector General of Police (Karnal Range) Ashwin Shenvi said. The bus was travelling from Delhi to Srinagar when it stopped at the dhaba’s parking area.
According to the police account, two youths arrived at the location in a car and allegedly hit the bus while trying to reverse and move ahead. A verbal altercation followed and escalated into a physical fight involving some bus passengers and dhaba employees, police said.
During the confrontation, the two men allegedly threw stones at the bus, breaking its windowpanes and damaging seats inside the vehicle. A passenger and a dhaba employee suffered injuries, Shenvi said. The bus resumed its journey to Srinagar at around 1.30 am.
Police said no formal complaint was filed initially and the bus continued towards its destination. An FIR was later registered at Butana police station after the dhaba manager submitted a complaint. The two men were identified as Mohit and Sawan, both residents of Karnal.
The incident prompted Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to contact the Haryana government. Abdullah said the Haryana administration had assured him that prompt and stringent action would be taken in accordance with the law. He also said the Jammu and Kashmir government was standing with the affected passengers and monitoring the situation.
Shenvi said the incident arose from a parking dispute and was not a hate crime. He urged people not to believe rumours circulating on social media and appealed for calm and peace while the investigation continues.
The case remains under investigation, with further legal proceedings to follow against those detained. Police have retained the vehicle allegedly involved in the confrontation as part of the inquiry.
