BEST bus runs over 5-yr-old girl

An angry mob vandalised a BEST bus after it ran over a 5-year-old school girl in Andheri on Wednesday afternoon. The DN Nagar police have arrested the driver,Ramdhar Kanojia (52),and have booked him for rash and negligent driving.

According to the police,the incident took place around 1:10 pm on Wednesday,when Nagma Shaikh (5),a resident of Patkar Compound,was on her way to Urdu medium school at Bardawadi. ACP Dilip Suryavanshi (DN Nagar division) said,“As of now,we do not know how the accident took place. We learnt from onlookers that the girl was mowed down by the speeding BEST bus while she was walking on the roadside. The accident drew angry crowd who got in an altercation with the driver. Shaikh was rushed to the Cooper Hospital where she was declared dead on admission.”

Meanwhile,the mob started beating up Kanojia while a few others vandalised the bus and started pelting stones on it. The police rushed to the spot and controlled the situation.

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“By the time the police officials reached the spot,the mob had badly beaten up Kanojia. The officials rescued Kanojia and arrested him for rash and negligent driving leading to death,” said Suryavanshi.

When asked if the police arrested anyone for beating up Kanojia and vandalising the bus,Suryavanshi said,“So far,we have arrested two people for assaulting the bus driver and vandalising the bus. They have been charged with rioting and destruction of public property. We are conducting enquiries to trace the others.”

Nagma’s family was unavailable for comment.