FRIDAY THE 13TH: Schoolboy mowed down by DTC bus

A 12-year-old boy of Class IV was mowed down by a rashly driven low-floor DTC bus leading to vandalism by an irate mob in South Delhi’s BRT corridor of Ambedkar Nagar area.  The incident took place on Friday morning. The mob torched a bus and attacked a dozen Government vehicles.

The accident took place around 10 am on BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) corridor in Ambedkar Nagar when the boy, identified as Aman Kataria, was hit by a low-floor AC bus while trying to cross the road. Aman, a resident of Khanpur, was on his way to school. The boy was taken  to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead  on arrival.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-East) Mandeep Singh Randhawa told The Pioneer: “A case under rash driving, causing death by negligence has been registered against the bus driver. He will be arrested after being discharged from the hospital where he is convalescing.” 

A case of rioting too has been registered for damaging  public property.    

“A boy, in a school uniform, was mowed down by a DTC bus while crossing the road in Khanpur area at around 11 am. Following the incident, residents staged a protest and set a bus ablaze and vandalised 12 others, evoking tension in the area,” a senior officer said.

A large number of police personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain calm. A few people were also injured during the stone pelting but everyone has been discharged from the hospital, added a police officer. Some policemen too received minor injuries.

While announcing a compensation of `5 lakh for the boy’s family, Delhi Government called the incident “shocking and tragic”. This tragedy has forced AAP dispensation to rethink future of BRT corridor. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has also asked police officials for a factual report on the mishap.

Renu Bibi, an eyewitness, told The Pioneer that she heard the bus’ brakes grate as the boy came under the killer wheels. “I found Aman in a pool of blood. Someone quickly made a police call. Aman used to play with my son,” she rued.

Reena (35), Aman’s mother, said she was informed by a neighbour that her son had met with an accident. She rushed to spot, a few metres from her residence. “He always went to school with his younger sister (in Class III), but on Friday, he was in a hurry,” said the inconsolable mother.