Mob torches DTC bus after schoolboy dies in accident

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Mar 14, 2015, DHNS: Tension prevailed at south east Delhi’s Ambedkar Nagar on Friday when a mob went on a rampage over the death of an 11-year-old boy in a road accident.

They set a bus on fire and vandalised over a dozen government vehicles, besides blocking traffic and shouting slogans against the Delhi Police and the Delhi Transport Department.

Locals turned violent after the boy, identified as Khanpur-resident Aman Kataria, was crushed to death by a Delhi Transport Corporation bus.

Aman was a class 5 student of Government Boys Senior Secondary School in Madangir. According to police, a call was made to the police control room reporting the incident at around 10.30 am.

“It was reported that a boy had met with an accident while he was crossing a road on the bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor between Ambedkar Nagar and Delhi Gate,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Mandeep Singh Randhawa.

Aman was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared brought dead. Eyewitness told police that the boy was dragged under the bus.

After initial probe, police said Aman was on way to school and was crossing the traffic signal at Khanpur. The driver of the low-floor AC bus had tried to flee from the spot, but was overpowered and thrashed by locals before being handed over to police.

“Aman used to go to school with his elder sister, but on Friday he went alone to write his final examination,” added Aman’s mother Reena. Angered over Aman’s death, locals gathered at the spot and pelted stones on buses.

“The mob also set a bus on fire. Over a dozen buses and government vehicles were damaged in the stone pelting. Some buses parked at the DTC depot in Khanpur were also damaged. Appropriate legal action is being taken,” Randhawa added.

The incident led to traffic snarls in the area for over two hours. “Additional force was sent to the spot to control the situation and disperse the mob,” Randhawa said.

The driver of the bus, 34-year-old Vikram, on being questioned told police that he failed to see Amit while taking a right turn from the traffic signal.

A case of rash driving and causing death by negligence has been filed against him with the Ambedkar Nagar police station.

Another case of rioting has been registered against unknown persons for creating ruckus and damaging public property.