Boy’s death in road accident sparks violence, 12 hurt

LUCKNOW - At least 12 people, including six policemen, were injured Friday in Uttar Pradesh’s Sant Kabir Nagar district in violent protests after a boy died in a road accident, police said.

Kishan Kumar, a 12-year-old, was hit by a jeep Thursday evening in Khalilabad area and he died of his injuries late in the night while being taken to the Gorakhpur Medical College.

Demanding that the errant driver be handed over to them, people of Khalilabad area fought pitched battles with the police, damaged several public and private vehicles and vandalised the Tarkeshwar police outpost in the area.

Police used batons to disperse the protesters.

“The mob indulged in heavy stone pelting…We used force against the protesters only after they turned unruly,” Deputy Superintendent of Police R.D. Gautam told reporters in Sant Kabir Nagar, some 300 km from Lucknow.

Additional security personnel have been deployed in Khalilabad in the wake of the violent protests.

“The situation is tense but under control. Senior police and district administration officials are camping in the area,” said Gautam.