New Delhi: Investigations into the vandalism of DTC and cluster buses during protests over the past few days have revealed that several third-party contractual workers engaged by the transport corporation as drivers were allegedly involved in damaging the buses, with police so far having apprehended 17 people in connection with the incidents.
In Dwarka, 17 cases have been registered in connection with incidents of vandalism, while five people have been arrested so far. More than 50 people have also been detained under Section 65 of Delhi Police Act for questioning in connection with the incidents. In the Dwarka case, police received a PCR call at 5:52 am on Sept 19 after windows of four cluster buses were broken in Pochanpur. He was identified as Manoj Sharma (31), a driver of one of the buses involved in the incident. Police examined CCTV footage and based on identification by the complainants nabbed three contractual DTC drivers: Sandeep (42), Ram Singh (50) and Munni Lal (42).
Police sources said eight people were apprehended in Kanjhawala and four others at different locations in Rohini district in connection with two FIRs. Three people were allegedly running the group, where members discussed the targeting of buses, plans of the attacks and other details, police said. A motorcycle and a slingshot were seized from them, police said.
Investigators have also found a WhatsApp group allegedly being used to discuss plans to vandalise DTC buses. A case was registered. Police examined CCTV footage and found a person wearing a DTC uniform allegedly throwing stones at the buses. Investigators alleged that they were on a motorcycle and, whenever they got an opportunity, damaged the windows of DTC buses by throwing stones or using a slingshot.