PATNA: Three youths were feared drowned in the Ganga after their overloaded boat was caught in the strong current and capsized near Brahmchari Ghat under Maner police station of rural Patna on Saturday.
The two victims were identified as Kaushal Kumar Rai (18), son of one Raju Rai and Amit Kumar Singh (20), son of one Satyendra Singh, both residents of Brahmchari village, while the identity of the third victim was yet to be ascertained.
According to sources, the incident took place when 10 workers were returning to Brahmchari Ghat after harvesting their crops. Seven of them were rescued by the local divers when they heard their cries for help while three feared drowned. The local police and SDRF teams reached the spot and started a search for the missing people.
Maner circle officer, Dinesh Kumar, said, “The rescue operation is underway as teams of local diver and SDRF are searching for the missing youths. The incident took place when the boat reached the midway of the river. Prima facie, it appears that overloading could be the reason behind the incident.”
Prisoner escapes: A prisoner of Beur jail allegedly escaped from PMCH on Saturday morning. Kalm Singh, a supplier of Haryana-made liquor in Bihar, was in police custody and brought to the hospital for treatment after he complained of stomach ache, on Saturday. He escaped by dodging four policemen who accompanied him. The police were trying to identify the accomplices who helped Singh in his escape. SSP Manavjit Singh Dhillon said, “A report has been sought from the jail administration. Based on this, action will be taken against the guilty policemen. An FIR has been registered against the absconding accused at Pirbahore police station.”
MLA’s 2 bodyguards held: Patna police on Saturday arrested two bodyguards of Danapur MLA Ritlal Yadav and recovered two double-barreled guns, a pistol, a rifle and 185 live cartridges from them. The arrested bodyguards were identified as Bhim Prasad, a resident of Paliganj and Vijay Prasad Yadav from Bhojpur district.
Danapur ASP Abhinav Dhiman said a campaign is being run by the police against the people who are carrying bodyguards illegally. “Most of these arms licenses are issued from Jammu and Kashmir, which are not registered in Patna. This is a violation of the rule. An FIR has been registered in this matter at Khagaul police station,” he said.
Patna SSP Manavjit Singh Dhillon said the arrested bodyguards were ex-service men who have got the licenses for self-defence and not to protect anyone.
