UDUPI: Three persons were arrested in connection with a tragic boat capsize incident at Kodibengre in Brahmavar taluk, in which three youths drowned to death.
The accused are Suhas Shriyan, 23, Sufiyan, 20, and Vasu Mendon, 52, from Kodi village, Brahmavar taluk, Udupi.
Investigation revealed that the tourist boat overturned due to alleged negligence and violation of safety norms.
On January 26, at around 10.45 am, the complainant, G Guruprasad, 34, of Mysuru, along with 28 others, went on a boating trip with the accused Suhas. The tourists were divided and sent in two separate boats, 14 persons in one boat and 15 in another.
At about 11.15 am, while the complainant and others were boating on the Swarna River near the estuary at Kodibengre village, the boat named 'The Wave Rider' capsized after its operators, Sufiyan and Vasu, allegedly turned the boat sharply to the left in a rash and negligent manner. All 14 people on board were thrown into the river.
In the incident, Shankarappa, 27, Sindhu P, 23, and Disha, 26, drowned and died, while the remaining passengers narrowly escaped and were brought to the shore. Based on the complaint, Malpe police registered a case under sections 284, 125(a) and 106 of the BNS.
Udupi SP Hariram Shankar stated that during further investigation, it was found that the accused operated the boating activity without obtaining any licence or permission from the Tourism Department.
The boat involved did not possess any certification declaring it fit for tourist activity.
Investigations also revealed that the vessel was not suitable for tourist rides and that no safety measures, including life jackets, were provided to passengers.
As the place of occurrence fell under the jurisdiction of Kota police station, the case was transferred accordingly. Since the deaths occurred due to negligence and rash conduct of the accused, additional sections were invoked, and a case was registered at Kota police station under sections 284, 125(a), 106, 105, 110 read with 3(5) of the BNS. All the accused were produced before the court that remanded them to judicial custody.