Bhubaneswar, April 5: Two criminals were today arrested in Bhubaneswar while trying to hijack a bus after injuring the driver and scaring the passengers on National Highway 203 in Laxmisagar area.

The driver, Akhaya Pradhan, sustained grievous injuries and was admitted to the Capital Hospital.

Pradhan said the bus from Konark was heading towards the Baramunda bus stand here. In front of BJB College, two motorcycle riders suddenly came in front of the bus and was slightly hit by it. The angry bikers had scolded the driver when the bus stopped at Kalpana Square for some passengers to get down.

When the bus reached Old Station Bazar Square, the bikers again stopped the bus and boarded it. They ransacked the bus before trying to assault the occupants.

“They had a sword and they attacked me with it while scaring the passengers with the weapon. The passengers got down from the bus along with the conductor and helper. I sustained injuries on my head,” said Pradhan, who was bleeding profusely.

There were around 30 passengers who could not do anything as the criminals were armed. The duo then drove the bus towards Master Canteen Square before the Laxmisagar police intercepted them near the Big Bazaar Square.

“We received information about two youths hijacking the bus and our Police Control Room vehicle soon followed them and caught them at Unit-III area,” said a senior police officer of the Laxmisagar police station.

The youths were arrested and the driver was rushed to the Capital Hospital for treatment. The police said that the accused duo —Sk. Sayed and Sk. Allam — were identified as residents of Masjid Slum in Unit III area. “We are interrogating them. We will forward them to the court tomorrow,” a police official said.

A source said the duo belonged to Sk. Hyder’s gang, who is now in Jharpada jail. The police, however, said that they would verify their criminal antecedents and if they were linked to any gangster.