Talking on mobile phone, DU lecturer crushes schoolboy under car
An assistant lecturer of Delhi University’s Bhagini Nivedita College allegedly crushed an 11-year-old schoolboy under her car in southwest Delhi’s Najafgarh on Wednesday afternoon.
An assistant lecturer of Delhi University’s Bhagini Nivedita College allegedly crushed an 11-year-old schoolboy under her car in southwest Delhi’s Najafgarh on Wednesday afternoon.
The driver, identified as Anupama Aggarwal, was allegedly speeding and talking over her mobile phone when she rammed her car into the boy who was cycling to school, eyewitnesses told police.
Vikas, an onlooker, told police that the driver was unaware the boy was trapped under her vehicle. She reversed her car and ran over the boy a second time in her attempt to flee the crime scene, he told police. Other eyewitnesses also told police that she tried to flee the spot, but residents caught her.
Another eyewitness, Rahul, on whose statement the FIR was registered, said in his statement, “She was using her mobile phone when the accident took place.”
However, police said Aggarwal rushed Nitesh — a Class 6 student in a Najafgarh government school— to a nearby hospital. But he died during treatment. Aggarwal later surrendered to the police and confessed to the accident, police said.
A senior police officer said they were told the woman took Nitesh to the hospital in her car. “She not only surrendered before the police, but also attended the boy’s last rites even as his family and neighbours were rude to her,” the officer said.
A case of rash and negligent driving causing death was registered against the assistant lecturer at the Chhawla police station. “Aggarwal was arrested and later released on bail. Her car was confiscated,” the officer said.
Aggarwal works in the home science department of the college in Najafgarh’s Kair. Her colleagues said two more women were with her when the accident took place.
Nitesh lived with his parents and three siblings at Roshanpura in the area. His father Mukesh Maan runs a denting and painting shop in the area. Maan is paralysed in one leg, said police.
Nitesh’s uncle Pradeep said that unlike other days, on Wednesday Nitesh left early for his school. “Lunch was not made (at home). So, he told his parents he would have something on his way. Eyewitnesses told us that as he was crossing the road, a speeding car hit him from behind,” said Pradeep.