A tragic incident has unfolded in Gorakhpur's Jhangha area, where a 16-year-old school topper drowned in the Rapti river while bathing with five friends. The victim, a Class XI student at Aditya Public School, had topped his school in the Class X CBSE exams with an impressive 91%.
Incident Details
According to police, the teenager went to the river with five friends on Thursday afternoon. Around 3 pm, his family received a phone call informing them that he had drowned. When relatives rushed to the riverbank, they found his clothes and slippers lying there, while his friends were missing.
Police and SDRF teams launched a search operation late Thursday, but poor visibility forced a suspension. The operation resumed on Friday morning, and after nearly six hours of searching, SDRF personnel recovered the body around 1 pm.
Mother's Allegations
The victim's mother has alleged foul play, stating, "My son was a topper and his friends were jealous of him. They drowned him." She believes her son was deliberately killed due to jealousy over his academic achievements.
Police Investigation
Police questioned all five boys who were with the victim. Sources indicate that their statements appeared inconsistent, particularly regarding claims that the deceased entered deep water fully clothed, while his clothes were later found in nearby bushes.
Jhangha SHO Anoop Singh confirmed that the postmortem examination and further legal action are underway. The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover the truth behind this tragic incident.
