A 36-year-old grain trader died after allegedly jumping into the Gomti River to escape a police raid on suspected gambling in Barabanki. The victim's family accused the police of failing to rescue him despite his cries for help.
Incident Details
The body of Ghanshyam Sahu, a resident of Sarai Rawat village under Haidergarh Kotwali, was recovered by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Monday morning, nearly 18 hours after he went missing near Ausaneshwar Ghat, within Kothi police station limits.
Police said the incident occurred on Sunday evening when a team led by sub-inspector Vishesh Kumar Kuril conducted a raid in Pehla village following a tip-off about gambling near the riverbank. As the police arrived, several people fled while six alleged gamblers were detained at the spot.
Amid the commotion, Ghanshyam and another man, Moti, allegedly jumped into the river to evade arrest. While Moti managed to swim back to safety, Ghanshyam was swept away by the current.
Search and Recovery
An overnight search operation involving the local police and SDRF was launched. His body was eventually found about 200 metres downstream, entangled in water hyacinth, police said.
Family Allegations
The death has sparked allegations of negligence. Ghanshyam’s wife Manorama Devi claimed he remained alive for some time after entering the river and repeatedly called for help, but police personnel did not intervene. “He kept shouting for help while drowning, but no one tried to save him,” she alleged, adding that he had not committed a grave offence warranting such inaction. His brother, Sonu Sahu, echoed the charge, saying timely intervention could have averted the tragedy.
Ghanshyam, who ran a small grain business at Datauli crossroads, had left home on Sunday afternoon saying he would return soon. The family learnt of the incident later from one of his associates.
Official Response
After post-mortem, the body was handed over to the family and cremated under police presence. SDM Rajesh Vishwakarma assured aid, including ₹5 lakh compensation and support for the deceased’s children. SP Arpit Vijayvargiya said a report has been sought into the incident.
