Prayagraj: In Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, a first year B.Tech student was arrested on Friday evening for attacking a 30-year-old bus conductor with a knife inside the bus. While the police said the incident occurred after a dispute over ticket fare, the accused in a video reportedly said that the conductor was indulging in blasphemy and “insulting Muslims”. Police have identified the accused as 20-year-old Lareb Hashmi. He used to take bus to reach his college in Yamunanagar area of Prayagraj. Police said Hashmi allegedly tried to escape from police custody by firing at them and was injured in the retaliatory firing. According to the police, on Friday morning they received information that a bus conductor had been attacked with a knife. Police reached the spot and after preliminary investigation, they learned that conductor Harikesh Vishwakarma was attacked by Hashmi, a first-year computer science student, who lived in Hazirganj area of Prayagraj.
Bus conductor Vishwakarma admitted to hospital
Hashmi used to take bus to go to his college. On Friday, when bus conductor Vishwakarma reached Hashim’s seat, Hashim allegedly took out a knife from his bag and attacked him. Vishwakarma suffered injuries on his neck and hands. Police said that when the bus stopped, Hashim got out and ran away. The bus driver took the vehicle to a nearby police station and Vishwakarma was taken to the hospital. Prayagraj Assistant Police Commissioner Ajit Singh Chauhan said, “On hearing Vishwakarma’s comment, Hashmi’s friend in the bus laughed. During questioning, Hashmi said that He thought Vishwakarma was referring to him and so he planned to attack the conductor,” he said. While the police were searching for him, Hashmi allegedly released a video shouting Islamic slogans, in which he claimed to be brandishing a knife. He was doing that he had attacked the conductor and he is heard confessing.
Prime Minister – Comments regarding Chief Minister
Hashmi was also heard taking the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. A case was registered against Hashmi on charges of attempt to murder at the Industrial Area police station. Yamunanagar (Prayagraj) Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhinav Tyagi said that on Friday the police arrested Hashmi from the industrial area. During interrogation, he allegedly claimed that he had hidden the knife in Chandi village. According to the police, when they arrested him from the village, When they took him away, he opened fire on them. “The accused brought a gun and opened fire on the police party. In response, the police also opened fire in which the accused was injured. Doctors said that Vishwakarma and Hashmi are undergoing treatment and their health condition is stable. Police said that Hashmi’s father Mohammad Yunus runs a poultry farm in Prayagraj.