Protests erupt after Army vehicle runs over 9-year-old in Kashmir

Police have registered an FIR against the driver, a member of the 55 Rashtriya Rifles

Published on: Jul 20, 2017, 23:34:21 IST

Hindustan Times, Srinagar | By HT Correspondent

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A nine-year-old girl was hit by an Army vehicle at Aglar village in Shopian district, South Kashmir, on Thursday. Police have registered an FIR against the driver, a member of the 55 Rashtriya Rifles.

Victim Arooba Farooq, a Class 2 student, was rushed to a nearby hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. “Arooba was headed to school when she stopped to buy snacks. That was when the vehicle hit her,” a relative told mediapersons.

Witnesses alleged the driver did not stop immediately after hitting the girl.

However, a senior police officer told Hindustan Times that the girl was rushed to the hospital in the same vehicle. “The accident happened in the morning and there was Army movement at the time,” he said.

Violent protests erupted as soon as the news of Arooba’s death spread. Scores of people were injured, and army personnel used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters..

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.