Mumbai witnessed a violent incident on Sunday evening when a group of Maratha protesters allegedly assaulted a passenger and vandalised a BEST bus at the Juhu bus station, raising concerns over public safety during demonstrations.

The incident occurred around 7:15 pm when a wet lease BEST bus operating on route number 201 was parked at the bus stop without any staff on board. An argument reportedly broke out between the protesters and some passengers, quickly escalating into physical violence.

During the clash, the protesters allegedly assaulted a passenger inside the bus and smashed the third window from the rear on the right-hand side. A 59-second video of the incident went viral on social media Monday morning, drawing widespread public attention. BEST marshals and staff at the site intervened to defuse the situation, but the protesters remained aggressive, continuing the confrontation until police were notified via the emergency helpline (100).

By the time law enforcement arrived, both the protesters and the passengers involved had fled the scene. The damaged bus was immediately pulled from service, and alternate arrangements were made to transport remaining commuters.

Police have launched a probe into the matter and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspects. BEST officials condemned the attack and assured full cooperation with authorities to ensure strict action is taken against those responsible.

The incident has highlighted vulnerabilities in public transport systems during periods of civil unrest, raising serious concerns regarding the safety of both passengers and transport staff.