Sonepur: Two non-Odia youths faced the ire of co-passengers for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan slogans while travelling in a government bus en route to Cuttack from Bargarh here Thursday evening.
The incident occurred while the bus was at Mahadevpali on Binika-Sonepur road. The two youths, whose identities are yet to be established, boarded the bus from Barpali in Bargarh district. But after travelling for some kilometers, the duo started misbehaving with the other passengers present inside the bus.
When other passengers opposed, the two youths started shouting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and ‘Hindustan Murdabad’. Despite repeated warnings, the two did not stop raising the anti-India slogans.
This did not go down well with the co-passengers who opposed them. Eventually, a verbal duel ensued between the two and other passengers. Irate passengers stopped the bus at Jamachappa square in Binika and thrashed the two black and blue.
On receipt of information, police rushed to the spot and rescued the youths. “The two youths raised some anti-national slogans and also had altercations with other passengers inside the bus. An investigation is underway following which further action will be taken,” informed Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Sonepur, Mihir Kumar Panda. Reports suggested that the two youths are from Tamil Nadu.
PNN