Protesters after damaging the windscreen of a truck at Sasaram in Rohtas on Wednesday. Picture by Sanjay Choudhary

Patna, Nov. 5: At least 20 people were injured when police resorted to baton charge to disperse a mob at Sasaram today.

The mob was protesting against rash driving, which led to the death of a 14-year-old student early this morning.

The injured people have been admitted to Sasaram sadar hospital where the condition of five was stated to be serious. Seven persons were arrested on charges of assault on policemen, damaging public property and disrupting both rail and road traffic.

The trouble started around 6am when Class X student Manish Kumar was crushed to death by a truck carrying stone chips near Post Office Chowk at Sasaram, around 175km southwest of Patna. The incident happened when Manish, a resident of Bhartiganj, was headed for his coaching institute on a bicycle.

As the news reached the coaching institute, a number of students blocked NH-2. The situation took an ugly turn when the students came to know that the truck, which had hit the victim, was let off. Irked, the students went on the rampage and ransacked shops and business establishments. Two other trucks were also set on fire. A section of students damaged windows of two AC coaches of Shalimar-Gorakhpur Express.

Sasaram SDPO Alakh Niranjan Choudhary confirmed the baton charge.

Rohtas superintendent of police Chandan Kumar Kushwaha said additional security forces have been deployed.