Tarn Taran Train Insident

Event Story

NEW DELHI, India -- A speeding train slammed into a bus packed with newly arrested Sikh political activists in northern Punjab state, killing 32 prisoners and two police guards, officials said Sunday. At least 21 other people were injured. The bus was attempting to pass through a supervised railway crossing when it was hit by the train Saturday night 15 miles from Amritsar, a town 250 miles northwest of New Delhi, officials said. The bus was packed with recently arrested, turbaned members of the minority Sikh religion who were on a hunger strike to demand greater political freedom for their Akali Dal sect in Punjab state, officials said. The crash killed 32 of the Sikh prisoners and two of their police guards -- all inside the bus -- and injured 21 other bus passengers, officials said. No one in the train was seriously injured, initial reports said. The bus was one of nine vehicles hired to transport the Sikh prisoners to nearby Bhatinda jail after they were arrested in Amritsar Saturday night to press their political demands, officials said.