Prayagraj Bus Conductor Attacked: Case of ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’, Accused Wanted to Target A Hindu, Say Intel Sources | Exclusive

The recent attack in Prayagraj was “a case of sar tan se juda” and the accused, Lareb Hashmi, wanted to attack any Hindu bus conductor, according to top intelligence sources.

According to sources, Lareb Hashmi, an engineering student, attacked a conductor, Harikesh Vishwakarma, with a cleaver after a dispute over bus fare. Hashmi later said he attacked Vishwakarma over his remarks against the Prophet.

Sources said after the attack, Hashmi jumped off the bus and entered a college campus to hide and made a video. In the purported video, which is going viral on social media, the accused can be heard saying, “…Woh Musalmaano ko gaali de raha tha, maine usko maara hai… Inshallah vo zaroor marega (He was abusing Muslims so I’ve attacked him… he will definitely die).”

In the video, Hashmi confesses to the crime and accuses the bus conductor of indulging in blasphemy and “insulting Prophet Mohammad”. According to police and local intelligence sources, “Small tension is routine, but this is a case of highly radical individual who has gone to this extreme. He is regularly listening to the preachings of Labaq-e-Pakistan. Labaq basically teaches that an individual should live and die for Allah.”

After the attack, police caught the accused from inside the college campus, where Hashmi was hiding. However, when they took him along to recover the cleaver, he allegedly fired at the police.

Retaliating to his fire, the cops also shot him in his leg, leading to his arrest. The accused is currently admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Yamunanagar) Abhinav Tyagi said, “After the incident, the accused was arrested by the police and a case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Further investigation is underway.”

Tyagi also said that Hashmi was studying in the city’s United Engineering College and was a resident of Prayagraj’s Hajiganj area.

Hashmi’s father, Mohammed Yunus, owns a poultry farm in the city.

Agencies say he is highly radicalised and was full of energy the day he attacked the bus conductor.