Patna, Feb 25 (IANS): Opposition RJD on Saturday said the speeding vehicle that killed nine school students in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district belongs to a ruling BJP leader and demanded stern against those responsible for the death of innocent children.

According to district police officials, speeding vehicle, a Bolero that hit and killed nine school children, belongs to Manoj Baitha, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Sitamarhi district.

Baitha was reportedly present in the vehicle at the time of accident, but he along with the driver fled and reportedly went underground after the incident.

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, after visiting the injured, said that the families of the victims told him that the killer vehicle belonged to the BJP leader and no arrest had been made so far.

"The vehicle has a BJP board attached to it and the driver was drunk at the time of incident. BJP leaders are totally drunk in power," he said.

The incident took place near a school on NH 77 under Minapur block of the district. Angry over the death of school children, local residents vandalised the school, beat up teachers and set ablaze chairs and benches there.

Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Vivek Kumar said the speeding vehicle run over the children when they were crossing the road, and all the injured children were admitted to a hospital in the city.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief and sorrow over the incident.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each child killed in the accident.