Got Falsely Accused While Traveling – Need Advice

Today, while returning to Pune from a trip outside Maharashtra, I was on a bus just 5 km from home. While closing my window, a group of local men on a motorcycle falsely accused me of spitting on them. They started abusing me, the bus driver, and the conductor, trying to provoke a fight. I felt completely helpless since I had no strong contacts or support nearby. If I had stepped down, things could have gotten worse. How can I handle such situations better in the future? Any advice would be appreciated.