PHAGWARA: Panic gripped the Sultanpur Lodhi subdivision after a shocking incident of robbery took place on a moving Punjab Roadways bus operating on the Jalandhar–Sultanpur Lodhi route. The incident occurred near Kularan on the Sidhwan Dona–Mothanwala road, where armed miscreants intercepted the bus and looted the conductor at weapon-point.
According to the victims, bus driver Pavitar Singh and conductor Malkiat Singh, the bus (PB-08-DG-5859) was making its routine 6–7 daily trips when it reached near a factory close to Mothanwala. At that point, an old white Honda City car (PB-08-AZ-4567), carrying 3–4 young men, overtook the bus and forcibly stopped it by blocking its path.
Two of the accused, armed with sharp-edged weapons (datar), allegedly barged into the bus and threatened the conductor. They snatched a bag containing approximately Rs 800–900 in cash. During the incident, one of the assailants even revealed his identity and warned the conductor of serious consequences if he reported the matter.
The sudden attack left passengers terrified, with many remaining in a state of shock long after the incident. After executing the robbery, the accused fled the scene in their vehicle.
Following the incident, the bus staff immediately drove to the Mothanwala police station and lodged a written complaint. A case has been registered, and the police have initiated an investigation. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the accused, and to trace the vehicle used in the crime.
The incident has raised serious concerns over law and order in the region, particularly regarding the safety of passengers traveling on rural routes. The targeting of a government-operated bus has posed a significant challenge for the police authorities.