The mob was attacking vehicles to protest Saturday´s killings of a motorcyclist and his pillion rider by a passenger bus operated by Swayambhu Yatayat. The vandals initially attacked buses operated by Swayambhu Yatayat, but later they attacked all vehicles, regardless of who owned them.
Protesters attack the stationary microbus with school children inside.Keshav Thoker
The mob comprising about a dozen men reached Sukedhara after stoning vehicles at Chabahil and attacked the parked microbus that was carrying over half-a-dozen children to the school. The mob attacked the microbus even after its operator informed them that it was carrying school children. The defenseless school children cried for mercy and help but they had to rush out of the van on their own. Some who tripped over on the street after jumping off the van were helped by seniors to get up.
Luckily, none of the children was seriously injured. There was no security presence in the area throughout the vandalism.
The attack created chaos as kids started crying and running out of the microbus.Keshav Thoker
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Their crying could not distract the mob and none of them came to their help.Keshav Thoker
Keshav Thoker
A senior student helped juniors.Keshav Thoker
The interior of the microbus after the attack.Keshav Thoker
The windshield of the microbus after the attack.Keshav Thoker
The vandals went on a rampage around the Chabahil area ever since Santosh Rai, 22, and Sushil Shrestha, 18, were killed after the Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle they were riding (Ba 33 Pa 7037) was hit by a passenger bus (Ba 2 Cha 112) Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, they attacked several vehicles in Gaushala, Chabahil and Sukedhara areas before turning to the school van.
Police said they have detained Nara Bahadur Khatiwada, 27, of Gorsang-6, Nuwakot, the driver of the bus that hit the motorcycle. Police have also detained several individuals involved in Sunday´s vandalism.
Transport was obstructed in Chabahil area from Saturday afternoon to Sunday noon when police took the situation under control. During this period, vehicles were forced to take a diversion to safer routes, causing traffic jams in several areas around Chabahil.
Police said they have arrested four persons allegedly involved in vandalism. Altogether 19 vehicles including passengers buses, micro buses and private cars were damaged by the vandals, traffic police said.
