Five-year-old fatally struck by military vehicle in Hakkari

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A military vehicle fatally struck a five-year-old child yesterday in Hakkari, a predominantly Kurdish-populated province in the country's east.

The incident reportedly occurred when the vehicle belonging to the Yüksekova District Gendarmerie Command was en route to the Van province.

The body of Erdem Aşkan, who lost his life at the scene, was taken to Yüksekova State Hospital. Subsequently, it was handed over to his family for transportation to Hakkari city center, where he will be laid to rest.

"My spouse and other children narrowly escaped death"

Erdal Aşkan, the father of the child, told bianet, "The sergeant came speeding in his vehicle and hit my son Erdem, who was on the roadside. At that moment, my spouse and our other 6-year-old child were also there, and they narrowly escaped death."

Aşkan said the vehicle fled the scene after the collision and added, "He dragged Erdem for about 50 meters. However, the police called us and informed us that the sergeant had been taken into custody. So, we started our journey towards Hakkari with the body."

The Yüksekova Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation into the incident.

Furthermore, the Hakkari Branch of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) announced on their Twitter account that they would closely follow the case.

The Hakkari Bar Association also stated in a press release that they would monitor the ongoing investigation and the developments of the case.

According to a report published in 2022 by the Diyarbakır Bar Association's Children's Rights Center, a total of 49 people, including 22 children, have lost their lives over the past 10 years as a result of armored vehicle collisions, nearly all of which occurred in the country's predominantly Kurdsh-populated eastern and southeastern regions. (NT/VK)