Bihar / 47-yr-old man pushed off moving bus for not paying fare in Bihar; dies

Patna: A 47-year-old man died after he was thrown off a speeding bus by the conductor, reportedly over his inability to pay the fare on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred on NH-22 near Dariyapur Kafen within the limits of Turki police station in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar on Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Maharaj Das, a daily-wage labourer from Sitamarhi district. He, along with a few other daily wagers, was going back to his hometown from Varanasi in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

On the way, a dispute broke out between Das and the bus conductor, reportedly over the former’s inability to pay the fare. When the bus neared Dariyapur Kafen, the conductor allegedly pushed Das out of the moving bus. Das got crushed under the rear wheels of the vehicle. He was dashed to a hospital, where he died, as per reports.

A police officer said that the victim’s body, after the post-mortem examination, was handed over to his family for last rites. The bus has been seized and efforts are being made to trace its driver and conductor. The officer further stated said the case is being probed from two angles – if Das accidentally fell off the running bus or the conductor pushed him out, according to a report by The Times of India.

In another incident, a nine-year-old girl, belonging to the Dalit community, was allegedly raped, killed and cremated without her family's consent in Delhi, triggering outrage across the nation. 

Four men, including a priest, have been arrested in connection with the incident. The arrestees have been booked under Sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Relevant charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST Act have also been invoked against them.