Mother, daughter molested; thrown off Punjab bus

A woman and her teenaged daughter were allegedly molested and thrown off a running bus belonging to the ruling Badal family in Punjab, leaving the girl dead and mother seriously wounded, and kicking up a political storm. The shocking incident occurred on Wednesday evening close to Gill village on Moga-Kotkapura road, about 10 km from Moga district headquarters, and four persons including the driver, cleaner and conductor of the bus were arrested on Thursday, police said.

The woman was travelling with her daughter and son in the nearly empty bus from Moga to Baghapurana when the accused began molesting them, ignoring desperate pleas to let them go.

Her 10-year-old son watched the whole drama unfold before him in horror and the stunned youngster was later handed over to the family by police. The 38-year-old woman and her daughter were rushed to Moga civil hospital where the girl was declared brought dead.