CRPF official feared drowned after jumping into Gomti with 2 sons

LUCKNOW: A central reserve police force (CRPF) official Vishambhar Dayal Maurya, 46, jumped into river Gomti from Ghaila bridge in Madiaon along with his two sons Tejasav, 8, and Vansh, 3, on Saturday morning. While Tejasav swam out, Vansh’s body was fished out by divers of the national disaster response force (NDRF). Dayal is also feared dead, but his body could not be found even after 10 hours of marathon search.

It is suspected the official, who was posted as the second-in-command at CRPF’s Bijnore camp centre in Lucknow, took the extreme step due to strained relations with his wife.

However, some of Dayal’s relatives expressed doubts over his drowning. They said he was a good swimmer and received special training after joining the paramilitary force.

The CRPF official’s nephew Sudhir Maurya told police that he was “very upset” after a spat with his wife, Anuradha, a few days ago. Sudhir said Anuradha had left their Eldeco Colony house in Madiaon and had also taken along their two sons with her.

“She was staying at her parent’s house in Malihabad’s Jagdishpur village. On Friday night, my uncle reached his wife’s maternal home, argued with her and forcibly brought along their

THE ELDER SON SWAM OUT BUT THE YOUNGER ONE DROWNED

sons. Then, for several hours, he roamed from one place to another in his car,” Sudhir told cops.

He said Dayal met him in a “very depressed” condition and even talked about ending his life. He said he tried consoling his uncle who later left for his home along with his sons at around 3am on Saturday.

Tejasav told police that his father stopped the car at Ghaila Bridge on IIM road and dragged him out of it. He carried Vansh in his arms.

The boy said Dayal pushed him into the river and then followed, holding Vansh in his arms. “I have learnt swimming at school, so managed to come out,” Tajasav told police.

The police was informed about the incident when a truck driver spotted a dripping Tejasav standing alone near an abandoned car. He covered Tejasav with a blanket and waited till the police arrived at around 5am.

Senior CRPF officials including DIG JS Sandhu and Dayal’s family members reached the spot after getting information about the incident.

Divers from CRPF and NDRF were pressed into service but Dayal’s body could not be found.