Mumbai Teen Attacks BEST Bus With Sword, Threatens Driver; Detained
A 16-year-old boy was detained on Saturday after he attacked a government-run BEST bus with a sword in Mumbai’s Bhandup area, damaging public property and threatening the driver.
The incident took place around 3:10 pm on Tank Road in Bhandup West. Eyewitnesses recorded the teenager stopping a moving BEST bus and launching into a violent rampage with a sword, shouting angrily and hurling abuses at the driver.
He shattered the windshield, windows, and damaged parts of the vehicle, reportedly causing a loss of approximately ₹70,000. A water tanker and a nearby auto-rickshaw were also seen with broken windshields.
Dnyaneshwar Rathod, the driver of the attacked bus, lodged a formal complaint following the incident. Based on his statement, the teenager has been booked under sections related to criminal intimidation, use of deadly weapons, criminal force, and the Damage to Public Property Act. The Arms Act was also invoked.
According to the Lokmat Times, the teenager told police he lashed out after being accused of theft by his uncle. He was “enraged” after the confrontation and decided to take out his frustration by damaging public property.
Police confirmed the boy has several criminal cases registered against him, including charges for causing hurt and intending to provoke a breach of peace. He has since been sent to a juvenile remand home.
Visuals of the teenager brandishing the sword and smashing the bus quickly went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism and raising concerns over public safety and rising juvenile crime in urban areas.
The incident has again highlighted the growing concern over juvenile delinquency in metropolitan cities like Mumbai. With increased access to weapons and exposure to violence, authorities have repeatedly urged for stricter preventive measures and community-level interventions.
Authorities are likely to probe the teen’s criminal history further. Mumbai Police are also assessing how the teenager accessed a weapon and whether adults around him could be held accountable under relevant laws.
