Bus set ablaze; 1 killed

Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, Jan 1 (UNI) A bus conductor was burnt alive as unidentified people set ablaze a private bus here early today, police said.

The deceased have been identified as Raju Khairwar, a resident of Jharkhand, who was sleeping inside the bus, which was fully gutted by the time the police and other personnel reached the spot. Police recovered the charred body from the bus.

Bus operator Mithilesh Singh suspected the involvement of a rival bus operator against whom a complaint had been lodged with the police earlier, about threat to his life and property. He alleged that this incident could have been avoided had the police took timely action on his complaint.

Meanwhile, highly placed police sources said a case had been registered and all aspects were being looked into. The sources also denied the allegations of bus operators that the incident took place as police patrolling was suspended due to new year celebrations.

UNI XC-SP JT MIR KP1349