Belthangady: A child of an auto driver died after his father’s auto ran down the road accidentally when he was perched inside it alone, at Charmady on Saturday.
Khaleeluddin (3), son of Kalandar is the deceased child.
Kalandar had come to an anganwadi near Sri Mahalingeshwara temple here on Saturday to pick his son. It is said that after making Khaleeluddin sit in the auto, Kalandar went back to the Anganwadi to pick a neighbour’s child. When Kalandar went away, Khaleeluddin is believed to have meddled with the auto, which set the vehicle moving. The auto moved for over 20 ft before falling down a ditch claiming the little boy’s life.
While a case stands registered against Kalandar at Dharmasthala police station for his negligence, the locals have come in support of Kalandar stating that the administration is directly responsible for Khaleeluddin’s death.
The locals have time and again made pleas to the local administration to widen the road and also maintain it. Since the administration paid little heed to maintain the road, the locals said that incident claimed the life of a little child.