BAHAWALNAGAR: A boy died on Wednesday after he was hit by a speeding bus, prompting protest by a large number of his fellow students and citizens.

According to police, an over-speeding bus hit a student of class VIII, identified as Fayyaz, near Adda Kabootri on the Minchinabad-Bahawalnagar road. The student died immediately, while the driver drove off.

Locals and students chased the bus and stopped it near Husainabad Chowk, but the driver managed to flee from the scene. Enraged locals broke the windows and tried to burn the vehicle, but were stopped by B Division police, which impounded the bus. The protesters blocked the road for hours by burning tyres and demanded the bus driver be immediately caught.

Later, they dispersed after the Ghamand police held talks with them.

Loharka patrolling police in-charge Muhammad Saleem told Dawn that the bus was moving from Haweli Lakha to Sadiqabad. Some students were waiting near Adda Kabootri to catch a ride to school and signalled the bus to stop. However, he said, the driver did not slow down, as a result of which Fayyaz was hit and killed.
Ghumandpur police registered a case and are investigating the matter.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2019