Youth mowed down by military truck

Lower division clerk dragged under wheels for over 10 metres

A 22-year-old youth was crushed to death and his colleague was injured when a military truck rammed their bike in Delhi Cantonment area of south west Delhi on Saturday afternoon.

The deceased has been identified as Naveen Kumar, a resident of Rajveer Colony near Gharoli Extension. He worked as a lower division clerk with Engineer Stores Depot in Delhi Cantonment.

“Naveen was returning home on his motorcycle with colleague Arun Singh Rana when the accident took place at around 2:10 pm on Saturday,” a senior police official said.

In his statement to police, Arun, a resident of Nauroji Nagar, said they were near Gopinath Bazaar when the military truck took a sudden turn without indicating and hit the motorcycle side-on.

Naveen and Arun fell down on impact and it is suspected that Naveen died on the spot after being crushed under the wheels of the military truck.

Arun alleges that Naveen was dragged under the truck for around 10 metres. “Naveen managed to escape without major injuries and took Arun to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital with the help of the errant driver, Sunil Kumar, in a private car,” the official added.

At the hospital, Naveen was declared brought dead, while Arun was treated for minor injuries. Sunil initially fled from the hospital, but was later arrested from his residence.

The military truck and the motorcycle have been seized, and a case has been lodged against Sunil with Delhi Cantonment police station. He faces charges under sections 279 (rash driving) and section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code.

“A report of the accident has been sent to MACT cell of south-west district to take further action,” the official said.