Moga Bus Murder Case: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal Pulls Orbit Buses Off Roads

Moga, Punjab: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today pulled buses run by Orbit Aviation off the roads, after massive protests over the death of a 14-year-old who was molested and then thrown off a moving bus on Wednesday.

Mr Badal has asked the company to send the bus operating staff on an orientation course and has ordered that no buses should run till the completion of the course.

The Akali government is facing intense political heat over the teen's death. The 14-year-old girl and her mother were abused and groped by a group of men, including the conductor, before being thrown from the bus on Wednesday. The bus was run by Orbit Aviation, co-owned by Sukhbir Singh Badal's family.

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party had taken out protests in Punjab and Delhi and demanded that the bus company be shut down. They referenced the Uber case - the service was banned in Delhi after a woman passenger was allegedly raped by a cab driver.

They alleged that buses run by Orbit often flout rules and that there is no fear of reprisal because of the connection to the ruling family.

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This bus had tinted windows and curtains, which are not allowed.

Meanwhile, the family of the girl has refused to cremate her and her father has demanded a case against Sukhbir Singh Badal.

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"I want justice... Is there nobody in the world who can lodge FIR against him (Sukhbir)?," the girl's father asked yesterday.

The family also turned down the state government's offer of Rs. 20 lakh compensation and a job.

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Opposition parties allege that it was because of the Badal connection that the police took 15 hours to arrest four men.