Cops lathi-charge Nallasopara residents protesting against tempo driver who ran over 2 children

The children, Aditya Prajapati, 6, and Aman Zubair, 8, died on the spot after the unidentified driver lost control of his vehicle and ran over them

The Nallasopara police lathi-charged members of a massive crowd that gathered in protest against a tempo driver who ran over two schoolchildren on Monday at 9.30am. Police said the situation was tense but under control.

The enraged mob staging a rasta roko in Nallasopara. (HT Photo)

The children, Aditya Prajapati, 6, and Aman Zubair, 8, died on the spot after the driver, Shivkumar Kandu, lost control of his vehicle — a water tanker — and ran over them. Two others were injured in the incident and have been admitted to a local hospital.

Kandu fled, but was later arrested . “We arrested Kandu under sections 304 (A) (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving), 337,338 (causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 184 and 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act ,” said a police official.

Cops lathi-charge one of the protestors at Nallasopara on Monday. (HT Photo)

Furious locals staged a three-hour-long rasta roko and pelted stones at the truck. They demanded that action be taken against unfit drivers of trucks and tankers entering the town.

“The crowd was lathi-charged to avert a law and order situation,” said a police official. Around 80 police personnel are at the spot to monitor and control the crowd.

Kandu will be produced before the Vasai court on Tuesday, said an official.