Violence erupts after truck runs over a child in Delhi

NEW DELHI - A child was crushed to death and a youth injured when they came under the wheels of a truck here Friday morning, triggering tension in the area as angry locals torched the vehicle and then pelted stones at policemen trying to stop them.

“Around 7.20 a.m., we were informed that a truck had crushed two children in Sector 20 of Rohini. One child died on the spot, while the other was rushed to a Sanjay Gandhi Hospital,” a police officer told IANS. The deceased was identified Daanish Hussain, 5.

Both the boys were students of R.K. Memorial Public School in Sector 20 and were walking to school with a family member when accident took place.

“Victim Daanish and injured Mohammad Arshad, 14, belong to same family and are nephew-uncle in relation. As their school was nearby, they were being walked there by Daanishs grandmother,” the officer said.

As soon as they reached the main road, a speeding truck hit them, leading to Daanishs death on the spot while Arshad was admitted to the hospital, said the officer.

The accident led to tension in the area as residents hurled stones at the truck and set it on fire.

When police present on the spot tried to prevent people, the crowd pelted stones at them too and police had to cane-charge the mob to disperse it. It took more than hour for police to control and pacify the angry mob.

“Things got out of hand with incensed locals pelting stones at police officers and indulging in arson. We detained 13 people, including seven women, and have stationed two platoons in the area till peace is restored,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Chhaya Sharma said.

The driver, identified as Brijesh Singh, was assaulted by the locals before he was handed over to police.