SIVAGANGA: A 15-year-old boy drowned in an ‘illegal’ swimming pool at Karaikudi in the district, while he was there along with two of his relatives on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as M Thiru Mukil Dileepan, a Class X student of a government school near Tirupattur. His father Murugesan of Tahsildar Road of Karaikudi is working as sales representative in Chennai.
Sources at the police department said the swimming pool lacked licence and they had already issued a warning to the owner, V Senbamurthi (56) of Ponnagar Street of Karaikudi, not to open it to public.
However, the pool owner allowed Dileepan and two of his relatives to use the pool for a fee of `50 for an hour.
Before the others could do anything to save the boy, Dileepan drowned in the pool as he did not know swimming, police said.
The body of Dileepan was sent to the Old Government Hospital for postmortem.
Police have launched a search operation for Senbamurthi. They said as many as three cases, including one under POCSO Act for abusing a minor girl, were pending against him.
A senior police officer said as the swimming pool was operating without licence, safety equipment, including life guards, safety ropes, rings, safety jackets and float boards, were not available in the pool.
Based on a complaint filed by Dileepan’s mother Thenmozhi, the Alagappapuram Police have registered a case under Section 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code against Senbamurthi. Further investigations are on in connection with the case.
‘Owner was warned’
Police sources said the swimming pool lacked licence and they had already issued a warning to the owner, V Senbamurthi of Ponnagar Street of Karaikudi, not to open it to public.