Bhadrak: The driver of the killer truck, which had mowed down five school children at Ranital in Bhadrak district July 19, was arrested from Andhra Pradesh, informed Bhadrak SDPO Jalandhar Jali.
Acting on a tip-off, a police team arrested him from Andhra Pradesh where he was seeking shelter since the incident.
The speeding truck had run over these five students, while they were returning home from Ranital High School, killing them on the spot.
Six others, who sustained injuries in the accident, were immediately rushed to the district headquarters hospital. One among them was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for better treatment.
Following the incident, a group of irate locals set the truck on fire and staged a road blockade near the spot demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation for each of the family of the deceased, Rs 5 lakh medical assistance for those injured, restriction of speed limit and construction of a flyover on the road, where the accident took place.
Expressing deep grief over the incident, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.
Local MLA Jugal Kishore Patnaik, Bhadrak SP B Gangadhar and officials from the district administration had reached the spot and taken stock of the situation.
Later, the protestors scuffled with some police personnel when they tried to pacify them, forcing the latter to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse them.
The remains of three students were consigned to fire at their native place Rahanja village, while that of another student was held in Swargadwara, Puri Thursday. The girl student, identified as Sweta Sahu, was cremated at her native place the following day.
PNN
