Minor killed in road mishap, locals protest

Patna: A 12-year-old boy was crushed to death by a speeding truck in Marufchak locality in Bhagalpur following which violent agitation erupted in the area, police said.

The minor boy identified as Tabrez died on the spot. Reacting quickly, the locals chased the fleeing truck and forced it to stop. The driver was pulled down and thrashed mercilessly, while the vehicle was torched by the people, they said. The agitated people then took the body of the boy and blocked the road, shouting slogans against the administration. Police personnel, who reached the place, were attacked with stones as several hundred people joined the protest. The situation continued for a couple of hours till additional forces were requisitioned. Two persons were detained in connection with the violence. "We pacified the crowd. The body has been taken into custody and sent for post-mortem. The truck driver was saved from the clutches of the people and arrested. The situation is under control now," said Bhagalpur Additional SP Mohammad Saroghuddin.