PATNA: A British couple tourist sailing in a boat in the Ganga had a harrowing time in Bihar when two local ruffians harassed them and tried to loot their luggage. However, local villagers helped the couple and the two accused were arrested within hours.
The couple, who police identified as Matthew and Jessie, had started sailing in their small motorboat from Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh and was headed for Kolkata. Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj said the couple faced "disturbing behaviour," including an attempt to loot their luggage, on Sunday night during their stopover at Pandarak in Patna district.
"The couple had pitched their tent on the bank of the Ganga and was cooking dinner when a few local ruffians approached them at about 10 PM and displayed disturbing behaviour that left the couple very frightened. The couple also alleged an attempt to loot their luggage. The two accused - Chhotu Kunar and Baiju Kumar - were arrested," said Maharaaj.
Police sources said the accused first took selfies with the British couple and then asked them for money and liquor. "There was apparently a lot of confusion between the two sides as neither understood the other's language. The ruffians allegedly tried to loot the foreign couple's luggage," said an official of Pandarak police station, where the couple lodged an FIR.
As the ruffians tried to loot the couple, the latter shouted for help and even reportedly jumped into the river and swam along it to reach a nearby village. They were helped by the villagers to reach the police station. Police swung into action and arrested the two accused on the river bank on the night itself.
The couple, who resumed their boat journey to Kolkata on Monday noon, thanked Patna police for their prompt action and help.