Passenger assaults bus crew with sickle for delay in starting bus in Kumbakonam

TIRUCHY: An argument over the delay in starting the bus took a violent turn after a passenger attacked the crew with a sickle in Kumbakonam on Friday. Sources said that, a mini bus, which operates between Kumbakonam and Elumichaipalayam via Tharasuram, started late due to a snag on Friday. The delay in starting the bus led to an argument between the crew, Vasanth (27) and conductor Vinod (25) and a passenger. The passengers confronted the crew questioning why they were operating an unfit bus posing threat and hardships to the passengers. During the course of the argument, one of the passengers suddenly pulled out a sickle and stabbed Vasanth, who was at the wheel, and Vinod. Following this, Vasanth stopped the bus to secure the youth, but the attacker managed to flee the spot. Subsequently, the injured crew were rushed to Kumbakonam GH. Police rushed to the spot and secured the CCTV footage in which they identified the youth as Hariharan alias Moppa Hari from Karnakollai near Kumbakonam. A search is on to nab the accused.