Three-year-old run over by school van

SRIVILLIPUTHUR:  Tense moments prevailed after residents of a village near here who had turned up in large numbers to see a kindergartener, fatally run over by a school van on Friday, were allegedly lathicharged.Selvaragavan (3), son of P Pathinettampadiyan, who owns a medical shop in Kadaneri village in Srivilliputhur taluk, was a UKG student at the private matriculation school in Krishnankovil.On Friday, after arriving at school in a van with other students, Selvaragavan ran back into the vehicle as he had forgotten to take his lunch carrier. When he was getting off again, driver Kandasamy failed to notice him and started moving the van. The kid fell out and was injured. Kandasamy rushed him to the Srivilliputhur government hospital where he was pronounced dead.When residents of Selvaragavan’s village arrived at the hospital to see the body of Selvaragavan, Sub-Inspector Kaliraj allegedly lathicharged them. Rathinamari, Angammal, Suppiah and Balakumar were reportedly injured. Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police Saminathan and Deputy Superintendent of Police Sakthivel who came to the spot, sent the injured persons to the hospital and pacified the crowd. But, the villagers began agitating, condemning Kaliraj’s action and demanded compensation for the boy’s death. Three hours later, it was agreed to pay a compensation of Rs 3 lakh  to Selvaragavan’s parents. It was then that the villagers received the body.