Miscreants vandalise BRTS electric bus, assault driver in Naranpura, ₹90,000 damage reported

Two unidentified men allegedly vandalised a BRTS electric bus and assaulted its driver in Ahmedabad’s Naranpura area late on Saturday night, causing damage worth around ₹90,000 to the vehicle, police said.

According to the FIR registered at Ghatlodia Police Station, the incident occurred around 11.45 pm on October 18 near the Sardar Patel Residence on the Shastrinagar–Ranip road. The complainant, Mehbubbhai Aminbhai Mandali(48), a BRTS driver residing in Vejalpur, stated that he was on his final trip from Sanand Chowkdi to the Naranpura depot when the incident took place.

Mandali, who has been working as a BRTS driver for four years, said he was driving bus on route no. 16. While turning slowly near Shastrinagar, a pedestrian’s foot reportedly came under the rear tyre of the bus. The driver immediately stopped and checked on the injured person, who sat by the roadside holding his foot.

Moments later, two unidentified men arrived at the spot carrying a stick and an iron pipe. They allegedly shouted at Mandali, accusing him of causing the accident, hurled abuses at him, and began smashing the bus windows. According to the complaint, the accused broke the main windshield, the driver’s side window, the rear glass panel, and the left-side door glass.

The driver further alleged that when he stepped out of the bus, the two men grabbed him by the chest and slapped him multiple times before fleeing. Local residents gathered at the spot following the commotion.

Mandali then informed the BRTS Depot Manager Prakash Makwana, Assistant Depot Manager Balkrishna Vaghela, and Acting Supervisor Deep Parmar, who accompanied him to the police station.

Police have registered a case against the unidentified assailants under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for mischief causing damage to public property, assault, and use of abusive language.

The total loss to the bus has been estimated at ₹90,000. An investigation is underway to identify and arrest the accused.