At least 18 people have been arrested on Thursday, 25 January, in connection with the 24 January attack on a school bus full of children in Gurugram. Haryana Police is expected to produce the men before a local court.

On Wednesday, a bus belonging to GD Goenka World School was attacked by miscreants who were protesting against the release of ‘Padmaavat’.

They pelted stones at the bus and attacked it with bamboo sticks shattering window panes when it was going past the area where a Haryana roadways bus was set on fire by miscreants. Children and members of the staff of the school were present inside the bus at the time of the incident.

A video which went viral on the Internet shows the occupants of the bus cowering in fear as it speeds away towards safety.

Though the Karni Sena has been accused of the attack, its spokesperson, Vijendra Singh, denied any role in the incident.

“Rajputs can never even think of attacking a school bus. This is a plot being created by politicians, who wish to weaken our peaceful protest,” he said on Thursday.

He claimed that those who pelted stones were not known to anyone “and hence Karni Sena was being blamed”.

“Rajputs can never engage in violence with the innocent. They can never throw stones. We strongly deny our role in any such episode,” Singh said.

The attack on the school bus was condemned by many on social media. Celebrities and other influencers protested against the violence conducted by the fringe groups in strongly-worded comments.

Violent scenes were witnessed in at least six states in India.

Buses were torched and vehicles damaged as fringe groups ran amok in Gurugram and Rohini in West Delhi as protests against the release of Padmaavat intensified on Wednesday, 24 January.

Protestors demand that the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film should not be screened in theatres.

In the light of the protests, some schools in Gurugram have decided to remain closed till Sunday. Though district administration and the Gurgaon police have assured adequate security, the respective school administrations have chosen to remain shut to prevent any untoward incident. The schools include Pathways school, GD Goenka school, Shiv Nadar school and Delhi Public School.

Section 144 has been imposed in Gurugram to maintain law and order.

Video of school bus attacked today in Gurugram by anti-Padmavati cowards. This is the aukat of groups like the Karni Sena: attackers of little kids. May the men responsible for this never be able to walk again. pic.twitter.com/4ZFKvJboKc

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) January 24, 2018

(With inputs from agencies.)