Man jumps into Gomti after hearing police hooter, dies

LUCKNOW: A 28-year-old rickshawpuller drowned after he jumped into the Gomti here in Thakurganj area on Tuesday evening. It is alleged he jumped into the river out of fear of getting caught after a police team reached the spot where he and some other people were gambling near Peepa Pul.

The incident led to major protest by the deceased’s family members and locals outside Satkhanda police outpost who alleged connivance of police in the gambling racket. ASP West, Vikas Chandra Tripathi refuted all the allegations stating that a motorcycle patrol team just sounded the hooter after spotting around six-seven people gambling on the river bank. He said the people tried to flee after hearing the hooter and one of them identified as Shahdab fell into the river due to high water current.

He said the body has been fished out with the help of local divers and sent for the post-mortem examination.