A heated altercation unfolded at the Sanket Vihar bus stop in Hadapsar, Pune, when a car driver allegedly assaulted a PMPML (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited) bus driver after being honked at to clear the way for the bus. The incident occurred around 6 pm on Wednesday, drawing attention to the challenges faced by public transport drivers on the road.
The PMPML bus driver, identified as Tushar Dombale from Baramati, lodged a complaint with the police, detailing the events that transpired during the encounter. According to Dombale, the car was obstructing the approach to the bus stop, preventing the bus from halting properly. In an attempt to prompt the car to move and allow the bus to stop, Dombale honked, inadvertently sparking the rage of the car driver.
The infuriated car driver reportedly confronted Dombale, boarding the bus and physically assaulting him. The assailant allegedly twisted Dombale’s left arm and subjected him to verbal abuse. Sub-inspector Sushil Damre of the Hadapsar police stated that the police have identified the accused, who is a professional driver. However, the accused was not present at his residence when law enforcement officials arrived. Efforts to apprehend the suspect are ongoing.
Narrating the incident, Dombale recounted that he was en route from the Hadapsar bus terminus to Kalepadal when he reached the Sanket Vihar bus stop. Observing that the car’s parking obstructed the bus’s movement, he honked to request the driver to clear the path. In response, the car driver exited his vehicle and proceeded to verbally abuse Dombale while gesturing for the bus to reverse. Despite Dombale’s explanation that other vehicles were lined up behind the bus, the car driver remained uncooperative.
In a bid to navigate through the obstruction, Dombale maneuvered the bus with difficulty, positioning it to facilitate passenger boarding. At this juncture, the car driver entered the bus and escalated the confrontation by physically assaulting Dombale, resulting in a fracture in the bus driver’s left hand. The car driver also reportedly slapped Dombale multiple times and directed abusive language toward another PMPML driver who had arrived at the scene.
Dombale promptly contacted the police control room, leading a beat marshal to reach the location. Local residents provided information about the accused, including his name, photograph, and address. Following the incident, Dombale sought medical attention from an orthopedic surgeon. A case has been registered against the car driver for obstructing a public servant from performing their duties. The incident underscores the challenges faced by public transport drivers while carrying out their responsibilities on the road.
