The child was on his way to a madrassa when a truck rammed into him at Juhapura crossroad on Tuesday afternoon, killing him on the spot.
A truck was set on fire and police had to resort to lathicharge in Juhapura after an accident that killed a 14-year-old boy. The child, Ujara Lakhani, was on his way to a madrassa when a truck rammed into him at Juhapura crossroads on Tuesday afternoon, killing him on the spot. The incident triggered immediate protests with agitators blocking the crossroad and bringing traffic to a standstill for some four hours.
The class VIII student of Diwan Bhalubhai School, Paldi was on his bicycle and was crossing the Juhapura crossroads when the truck coming from Vishala circle to Sarkhej rammed into him. Eyewitnesses said the child lost his balance and fell on the ground crushing his skull.
The incident triggered protests in Juhapura with agitators blocking the road, where the accident occurred, for nearly four hours. According to sources the truck driver tried to flee from the accident site but people who saw the incident chased the truck and finally caught up with the driver near Juhapura circle.
The driver Chandmiya Sheikh was handed over to the Vejalpur police. When news of the accident spread, people staged a protest against the driver. Traffic on the Juhapura circle was blocked for close to four hours as people hurled stones at passing trucks. The truck which hit the child was set afire.
The police had to be called to control the protestors. The police resorted to lathicharge and lobbed three tear gas shells when protestors started throwing stones at them. "The protest was against the driver for killing the child," a resident said.
JCP Satish Sharma sector 1 and DCP Brijesh Jha, ACP VR Tolia crime branch, SOG DySP Tarun Barod, PI JM Barwad, and traffic DCP MM Anarwala also reached the spot to control the situation.
Around 25 police vans were also called in for help.
Three people were caught for rioting. Father of the victim, Abdul Haifz Lakhani, a BBC Urdu.com correspondent, said, "Some one called me and informed me about the accident. He said he got my contact number from my son's purse."
"When I reached Juhapura circle, I found my son dead. The truck driver should be punished," said Lakhani.
Apart from Ujara, Abdul has a son Ujjama (14) and a daughter Ushama, both of whom are students of Diwan Balubhai School.
Bright studentUjara Lakhani was a brilliant student. He stood first in an essay writing competition held by the Gujarat Urjaa Department. He was active in sports and was interested in computers. The deeply pious child dreamed of serving in the Indian Armed Forces. He used to participate in the NCC programmes that were held in his school.
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