Two MP schoolgirls jump off moving bus over obscene comments by driver-conductor, others

Agencies, February 10, 2025, DAMOH: Two Class IX girls jumped out of a running bus in Damoh in Madhya Pradesh on Monday morning after four persons, including the vehicle's driver and conductor, allegedly made obscene comments and acted suspiciously, a police official said.

The girls were injured in the incident and have been admitted to the district hospital, the official added.

"The two girls study in a school in Tori and were going by bus from Adhrota to appear for their exams. There were four persons in the bus, including the driver and conductor. The accused made obscene comments, and refused to stop the bus when the girls asked them to do so," said Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhawana Dangi.

One of the victims, a Class 9 student, said that the bus she usually took did not arrive that day, so she and her sister boarded another one. The bus was almost empty, except for the driver and three other men.

As the bus moved, the conductor refused to take their fare and suddenly locked the doors. One of the men started making inappropriate comments. When the girls asked the driver to stop the bus, he ignored their requests.

Fearing for their safety, the sisters decided to jump from the moving bus. After they fell, the accused quickly drove away. Passersby helped the injured girls, and their families rushed them to the hospital.

Senior police officers, including ASP Sandeep Mishra and DSP Bhavana Dangi, arrived to take their statements.

Tejgarh Police Station in-charge Abhishek Patel said that after receiving information, the police launched a search operation.

Three suspects have been arrested, and the bus has been seized. Efforts are underway to catch the fourth accused.

The accused have been arrested under POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The girls are now safe in the district hospital.