Bandh in Barnala after Orbit bus kills trader

BARNALA: One doesn't expect senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders to attend the cremation of a victim of a fatal accident in the midst of a crucial election campaign. But Ramesh Kumar, 55, owner of a petrol pump in Tapa town in Barnala, was not just another victim of a fatal accident. He was run over by a bus of a company owned by Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal.

Kumar was on his scooter returning home from work on Sunday evening when he was hit by an Orbit Aviation Private Limited bus, driving on the wrong side of the road at high speed. The death angered residents, who damaged the bus and shouted slogans against SAD. Sukhbir is the largest share-holder of Orbit Aviation, which is a subsidiary of the Rs 735 crore hospitality firm Orbit Resorts.

Fearing a backlash, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal was forced to cancel an election rally here on Monday. Such was the anger among the residents that traders observed a bandh for about four hours on Monday morning, bringing the town to a halt.

Amond those SAD leaders who attended Kumar's cremation on Monday afternoon were Punjab finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, MLA Balbir Singh Ghunas and Darbara Singh Guru. While Parminder was representing his father and Sangrur candidate Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Deepa Singla came on behalf of her husband and Congress Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla.

Heavy police force was deployed to control protests during the cremation.

"My brother was thrown a long distance by the impact of the accident," said Kumar's cousin Satpal.

"At least six lives have been snuffed out by Orbit buses in the last two years. The company needs to be penalized," said Narain Dutt, president of Inqulabi Kendra Punjab that advocates traffic reforms.

Barnala SSP Opinderjit Singh Ghuman said the bus driver, identified as Sabar Khan of Kangar village in Bathinda, has been arrested and a case of negligent driving registered against him.