LAHORE, May 27: As many as 15 unknown assailants on Sunday forced their entry into a bus owned by a private transport firm near Qainchi stop at Ferozepur road and thrashed the crew, besides resorting to aerial firing.

The attackers also quarreled with the passengers and misbehaved with women when they tried to defend the bus crew.

Following the incident the company officials and passengers blocked the Ferozepur Road for a couple of hours in protest against police for not reaching the spot promptly.

“The unknown armed assailants stopped our bus operating on route 51 (Lorri Adda to Kasur) near Qainchi stop at about 9pm. Carrying clubs and pistols, they forcibly entered the bus and started beating the driver,” Foton Company’s route administrator Mr Attaullah told Dawn.

He said when the conductor and passengers tried to rescue the driver the assailants started thrashing them too, besides misbehaving with women passengers. They also damaged the bus interior and resorted to aerial firing to harass the passengers, he added.

The official said some of the passengers also contacted police at emergency number but no one reached the spot in time, allowing the attackers time to flee the scene.

However, the police have taken two suspects in custody in the light of information provided by the bus driver.

He said the company staffers ended their protest after police officials led by a DSP assured them of provision of security for the buses, crew and passengers.

Mr Attaullah said the accused also snatched cash from conductor on gun point before fleeing the bus stop.

According to a senior official of the Lahore Transport Company, the Kot Lakhpat police have registered a case (No 486/12) against the unknown attackers and arrested two suspects.

Meanwhile, LTC senior officials have expressed their concern over the incident.

“It seems to be an attempt by those who do not want to see an efficient urban transport system in the city,” LTC Chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hassan said in a statement issued on Sunday.

He said the LTC would ensure complete security of all buses being run by various local and international companies in the city under the company regulations.

He directed the police to maintain law and order on all city roads and ensure protection of buses, crews and passengers against miscreants.

Two buses of a foreign company were torched in the city a few days back prompting the firm to shut down its urban transport operations.

However, after an assurance by the LTC high-ups regarding making the buses routes secure the company had restored operations.