Katwa's budding footballer drowns in Bhagirathi

Kolkata: A promising footballer from Katwa in East Burdwan died after being drowned in Bhagirathi River.

The victim Joy Saha (22), a resident of Kashigunjpara of Katwa, had gone to take a bath in the river on Friday morning, after playing a practice football match in his locality. Some of his friends were also bathing in the river at the time of the incident.

The victim was suddenly swept away by strong currents. After being attracted by the screams of his fellow footballers, some of the local residents rushed to the spot and jumped into the river water. All their efforts were in vain as the victim had been swept away by the current. The matter was immediately informed to the local police station. A search was conducted by the local divers for nearly two hours, following which the body was spotted a few metres away from where he got drowned. Police sent the body to the Katwa Sub-Divisional Hospital for postmortem examination.

Police said that the victim had represented in various district-level football tournaments and earned a reputation. He used to go to the river for bathing on a regular basis after playing football.

Police have started a probe in this regard and the victim's friends, who had accompanied him to the river, are also being interrogated in this connection.

According to the preliminary investigation, police suspect that it was an accidental death. The eyewitnesses told the police that the victim was swimming in the river when he was swept away by the strong current. Police came to know during interrogation that he was a good swimmer.

According to a senior police officer in the district, all possible angles are being looked into. A detailed probe has been initiated.