{"id":4512,"date":"2016-10-29T12:23:02","date_gmt":"2016-10-29T06:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.barusahib.org\/?p=4512"},"modified":"2024-11-21T17:08:03","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T11:38:03","slug":"community-mourns-over-the-death-of-this-punjabi-singer-burnt-alive-in-brisbane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/community-mourns-over-the-death-of-this-punjabi-singer-burnt-alive-in-brisbane\/","title":{"rendered":"Community mourns over the Death of this Punjabi Singer burnt alive in Brisbane!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/community-mourns-over-the-death-of-this-punjabi-singer-burnt-alive-in-brisbane\/#Tragic_Death_of_Indian-Origin_Bus_Driver_in_Brisbane\" >Tragic Death of Indian-Origin Bus Driver in Brisbane<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/community-mourns-over-the-death-of-this-punjabi-singer-burnt-alive-in-brisbane\/#Details_of_the_Incident_and_Investigation\" >Details of the Incident and Investigation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/community-mourns-over-the-death-of-this-punjabi-singer-burnt-alive-in-brisbane\/#Community_Shock_and_Reactions_from_Authorities\" >Community Shock and Reactions from Authorities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/community-mourns-over-the-death-of-this-punjabi-singer-burnt-alive-in-brisbane\/#Tributes_and_Community_Reflection\" >Tributes and Community Reflection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/community-mourns-over-the-death-of-this-punjabi-singer-burnt-alive-in-brisbane\/#Public_and_Union_Reactions\" >Public and Union Reactions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tragic_Death_of_Indian-Origin_Bus_Driver_in_Brisbane\"><\/span>Tragic Death of Indian-Origin Bus Driver in Brisbane<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a horrific incident, a 29-year-old Indian-origin bus driver was burnt to death when a man poured flammable liquid on him in front of several shocked passengers in Australia\u2019s Brisbane city, police said.<\/p>\n<p>Manmeet Alisher, a well-known singer in the Punjabi community, was driving a Brisbane City Council bus when he was targeted by the man who threw an \u201cincendiary device\u201d at him which sparked a fire.<\/p>\n<p>Alisher died on the spot while several passengers on board the bus at the time managed to escape through the rear door, said police in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.<\/p>\n<p>Six people were rushed to a nearby hospital for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, they said.<br \/>\nPolice said there was \u201cno apparent motive\u201d, including terror or race-related.<br \/>\nA 48-year-old man was taken in custody over the incident.<\/p>\n<p>Detectives from South Brisbane district and the state crime command\u2019s homicide group have commenced a homicide investigation, Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Details_of_the_Incident_and_Investigation\"><\/span>Details of the Incident and Investigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Preliminary inquiries indicate just after 9 am (local time) passengers were boarding a bus on Beaudesert Road when a man threw an item at the driver causing fire, police said.<\/p>\n<p>Police said the bus, carrying six passengers, pulled into Moorvale Shopping Centre on Beaudesert Road to pick up three passengers when the incident took place.<\/p>\n<p>Flags will be flown at half mast across Brisbane on Saturday as a mark of respect for Alisher.<br \/>\nStewart ruled out any possibilities of the attack being a racially motivated one, saying there was no such indication.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is no evidence at this time of any linkage to terrorist-type activities and certainly that has not become evident through the ongoing investigations that have occurred. We do not believe there is any evidence at this stage linking this to a racial complaint or concern by either of the people involved,\u201d Stewart said.<br \/>\n\u201cWhile we do not know the actual motive at this stage, I want to reassure the community that we take these incidents very seriously and that is why as a precaution, officers from the state security and counter terrorism group have also been involved,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Community_Shock_and_Reactions_from_Authorities\"><\/span>Community Shock and Reactions from Authorities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Punjabi community in Brisbane expressed shock over the death of Manmeet Alisher, also known as Manmeet Sharma.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWords escape me, it is a horrific incident here in the quiet suburb of Moorooka,\u201d Queensland Police Superintendent Jim Keogh said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA bus driver, going about doing his business, supporting the community, has had his life taken from him in what is a senseless and needless act. The fire was substantial, he would have stood little chance,\u201d he said.<br \/>\nKeogh said the passengers were visibly shaken and considered themselves lucky.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is lucky the whole bus did not become engulfed in flames. They are traumatised&#8230;it was rather rapid,\u201d he said.<br \/>\nMeanwhile, taxi driver Aguek Nyok, who was walking past the bus when the fire broke out, said he kicked in the bus\u2019s back door to free trapped passengers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately, I could not go inside because there were fumes. It was smoky, you cannot even think of going there, and the fire was getting higher and higher,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Stewart said, \u201cWe understand several passengers on board the bus at the time managed to escape via the rear door and I also understand that is partly because of the heroic actions of a taxi driver.\u201d<br \/>\n\u201cOur top priority now is to assist the loved ones of the bus driver who sadly perished in this incident,\u201d Stewart said.<\/p>\n<p>State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also expressed her shock and said the thoughts of Queenslanders were with him.<br \/>\n\u201cI was absolutely shocked to hear today in the middle of the Domestic and Family Violence summit that a young bus driver had lost his life in such horrendous circumstances,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPolice Commissioner has advised me that the police are continuing to undertake investigations around this matter. There were witnesses on the bus as well, and once again our hearts go out to the family of that young bus driver killed in such horrendous circumstances,\u201d Palaszczuk said.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tributes_and_Community_Reflection\"><\/span>Tributes and Community Reflection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Brisbane Mayor Graham Quirk said, \u201cIt is a very, very sad day for the council and the wider community to see the loss of one of our drivers and in this way.\u201d He said the council would pay tribute to Alisher.<br \/>\n\u201cOne thing we will be doing as an organisation on Saturday is to fly the flags of Brisbane at half mast as a mark of respect to our bus operator. It is just a very, very sad set of circumstances,\u201d Quirk said.<br \/>\nHe said an onboard camera captured the attack. \u201cFootage has been provided to the Queensland Police Service to assist them with their investigations at this time. The advice that I am getting from police is that this is a random act,\u201d Quirk said.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Public_and_Union_Reactions\"><\/span>Public and Union Reactions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the council\u2019s thoughts and prayers were with the driver\u2019s relatives and friends.<br \/>\n\u201cWe lost a member of the Council family, the Brisbane family, today with the senseless and inexplicable murder of one of our bus drivers. The best thing we can do as a community at this time is to show all of our bus drivers the appreciation and respect we have for them,\u201d Schrinner said.<br \/>\nLocal councillor Steve Griffiths said a vigil would be held on Saturday at 5.30 pm (local time) to pay tribute to the bus driver.<\/p>\n<p>Transport Workers\u2019 Union Queensland secretary Peter Biagini said, \u201cOur hearts go out to everybody affected by this terrible incident, and praise the quick thinking taxi driver who helped get people off the bus.\u201d<br \/>\nAccording to The Brisbane Times, there have been over 350 assaults on bus drivers across Queensland in the past six months<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tragic Death of Indian-Origin Bus Driver in Brisbane In a horrific incident, a 29-year-old Indian-origin bus driver was burnt to death when a man poured flammable liquid on him in front of several shocked passengers in Australia\u2019s Brisbane city, police said. Manmeet Alisher, a well-known singer in the Punjabi community, was driving a Brisbane City [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-4512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","hentry","category-event","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4512"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4712,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4512\/revisions\/4712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4512"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=4512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}