Bus conductor tries to stop fight, stabbed to death

New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a 30-year-old bus conductor was stabbed to death in the the early hours of Friday for intervening in a scuffle over open urination. DCP Atul Kumar Thakur said that the incident took place in the Shastri Park area around 4.30 am.

The bus conductor, Wasim Alvi, had tried to break up a quarrel between two men when he was stabbed in his neck. Police said the attacker was angry with the other man, Varun, when he saw him urinating on the footpath. Alvi’s two friends, who were with him at the time of the crime, said the attacker was threatening Varun by saying that the latter had soiled the place where he runs his shop.

Wasim’s friend, Mustaqim, said they were returning home along with Shakib after work in an auto-rickshaw. As they took a right turn towards Khajoori from Shastri Park traffic signal, a man stood on the road and flagged down the auto. At this, the auto driver stopped his vehicle.

“The man, who identified himself as Varun, looked frightened and told us that an unknown man was threatening to kill him with a knife as he had seen him urinating on the footpath. Varun asked us for a lift and we agreed,” said Mustaqim.

As the auto driver tried to start his vehicle, the unknown man stood in front of it and insisted that Varun be left there.

“Wasim stepped out of the auto and asked the man to spare Varun as he had already apologised for his mistake. At this, the man took out a long knife and stabbed Wasim in his neck. Wasim collapsed on the road and his attacker fled. We rushed Wasim to Jag Pravesh Hospital, where doctors declared him dead,” said Mustaqim.

Mr Thakur said a case of murder has been registered and investigations are underway. “Effort is being made to identify and nab the suspect,” he said.

Wasim worked at the interstate bus terminal in Kashmere Gate as a private bus conductor. He lived with his 8-month pregnant wife and two daughters in Vijay Vihar near Loni in Northeast Delhi.