Gwalior, Sep 12: In a shocking incident, a school bus driver was shot at by two youths following a dispute over a car parked in the middle of the road in Dabra town of Gwalior district on Saturday morning. Alarmingly, there were around 50 schoolchildren in the bus at the time of the incident who were left terrified after witnessing the crime, police said.

The incident occurred near Badi Akbai village under Pichhore police station limits when the bus belonging to Glorious Convent School, Tekanpur, was taking children to school.

According to police, a Swift car was parked in the middle of the road, obstructing traffic.

Unable to move forward because of the car parked in an awkward manner, bus driver Khem Singh sent his helper to ask the occupants to move the vehicle.

However, the men allegedly refused to move the vehicle, saying the car had run out of fuel.

When Singh got down and suggested that the car be pushed aside to clear the road, the youths allegedly became angry and an argument followed.

One of them allegedly pulled out a country-made pistol and fired four rounds at Singh. Pellets hit him near the eye and on the cheek, leaving him injured. The accused then fled from the spot.

The injured driver was initially taken to a hospital in Dabra and later referred to Gwalior for further treatment.

Pichhore SHO Shivam Singh Rajawat said the car had tinted windows and the word “Gurjar” was written on its rear windshield.

The firing took place while around 50 children were inside the school bus, triggering concern over their safety.

The children were reportedly terrified after the sudden gunfire and the attack on their driver.

SDOP Saurabh Kumar said police teams were working to identify and arrest the accused.

CCTV footage from the area is also being examined to trace their movements.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are questioning witnesses to establish the circumstances leading to the firing.

Patna, Sep 12: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Patna Zonal Unit, has secured the conviction of two men in a drug trafficking case involving the seizure of 5.250 kg of opium in Bihar’s Aurangabad district.

The contraband was seized on February 24, 2021, following specific Intelligence received by the NCB.

Acting on the information, officers intercepted accused Pramod Prasad at Ramabandh Bus Stand in the Town Police Station area of Aurangabad and recovered 5.250 kg of opium, which he had allegedly concealed in his clothes.

According to the NCB, the opium had been sourced from Daltonganj in Jharkhand and was being transported to Aurangabad in Bihar.

The case was registered as NCB Patna Zonal Unit Crime No. 04/2021 under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

During the subsequent investigation, the alleged supplier, identified as Bikesh Kumar Gupta, was also arrested.

The NCB said its investigation gathered evidence that was subsequently presented before the court to establish the involvement of both accused.

The 1st Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (NDPS Act), Aurangabad, found Pramod Prasad, a resident of Imamganj in Gaya district, and Bikesh Kumar Gupta alias Bikash Kumar Gupta, a resident of Panki in Palamu district of Jharkhand, guilty of offences under the NDPS Act.

The court sentenced both men to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each under the applicable Sections.

The court further directed that, in case of failure to pay the fine, each convict would undergo an additional one year of simple imprisonment.

The NCB attributed the conviction to the investigation and prosecution conducted by its officers and said it remains committed to curbing illicit drug trafficking and preventing drug abuse.

The Bureau has also appealed to members of the public to share information about the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances through the MANAS portal or helpline number 1933.

The NCB said the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential.

Firozabad, Sep 12: Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad have arrested an accused, carrying a bounty of Rs. 25,000, following an encounter, officials said on Saturday.

The accused has been identified as Sunny, alias Saniya. Police said that more than a dozen criminal cases are registered against him.

SP (City) Santosh Kumar Singh said that on August 31, the accused had asked for a lift from a man. While riding pillion after securing the lift, he allegedly stole Rs. 30,000 by picking the victim’s pocket. The victim had later filed a case.

The exchange of fire took place between the police and the accused after the suspect realised he was being cornered during a routine check.

According to an official statement, the operation involved a team of the Rasulpur Police Station and the Special Operations Group.

Sunny sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during the encounter.

A country-made pistol, ammunition, and Rs. 10,520 in cash were recovered from his possession.

In a similar case reported last month following an encounter, police in UP’s Hapur arrested a criminal carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 in connection with the murder of a man. Weapons, ammunition and a car used in the crime were recovered from the accused.

Officials said that during a checking operation by the Hapur Dehat police, the main accused in the Gaurav Tyagi murder case was injured in retaliatory police firing. The accused, identified as Pradeep, son of Rajbir, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 25,000, was arrested and admitted to a hospital for treatment.

According to the police, Pradeep, a resident of Mohammadpur Azampur village under the Babugarh police station area, was wanted in connection with the murder of Gaurav Tyagi on August 18 over an old land dispute. Police alleged that Pradeep, along with his brothers and other associates, brutally murdered Gaurav Tyagi, a resident of the same village, by attacking him with hammers and iron rods.

A case was registered at the Hapur Dehat police station under several relevant Sections of the IPC.