Truck hijacked at knifepoint mows down more than 24 people

A truck, driven by a suspected mentally unstable man who allegedly hijacked the vehicle at knifepoint, mowed down at least seven persons and injured more than 24 people, the police said.
The truck, which was loaded with cement, was on its way from Maihar to Satna. After it reached Lehargavan, it was allegedly hijacked at knifepoint by an unidentified person who forced the truck driver to leave the seat and took control of the wheel.
He drove the truck from the Najeerabad area of the town and mowed down a number of people, the police said, adding it is suspected the person who allegedly hijacked the truck is mentally unstable.

It also injured many others whose exact number is not yet known, besides hitting over 100 vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, hand-pulled carts as well as autos, before stopping at Pannilal junction, the police said.
An angry mob pelted stones at the truck, damaging it, and also thrashed the driver who was apprehended by the police.
Later, the mob also pelted stones at Kotwali police station and a hospital, after which the police had to resort to a baton charge to control the situation.
Meanwhile, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) prohibiting assembly of more than ten people has been imposed in the town and additional forces were rushed to the spot, the police said.