An angry crowd had set fire to a tipper truck at Navakiri, Jaffna after the truck run over a young expectant mother today, the Police said.

The driver, who had fled the scene fearing reprisals, was however taken into custody later.

The 25-year-old expectant mother, Kasindran Subashini was run over by the truck while she was standing on the side walk at Saraswathy Road in Navakiri today at about 11.30 a.m, eyewitnesses said.

The driver of the truck fled the scene fearing reprisals from the villagers. However, a tense situation followed the accident and the agitated villagers had set fire to the truck, the Police said. The truck had been gutted by the fire, the Police said.

The Police hurried to the location and tried to disperse the crowd. They also went in search of the driver and arrested him. Policemen from the Kayts and KKS stations were also deployed to the spot following which the situation was brought under control. (Selvanayakam Kapilan )