Journalism of Courage
TWO CHILDREN were found dead in a canal, near Shivarkar bungalow, on the BT Kawade road, on Thursday morning. Police have identified the deceased as Krushna Balu Dhande (7) and his sister, Lakshmi Dhande (9), both residents of a slum, near Fun Time Mall, on the Sinhagad Road.
Police said that the hutment where the siblings resided is located near a canal. Police suspect that the children may have fallen into the canal when water was released from the Khadakwasla dam and then drowned.
Police said that father of Krushna and Lakshmi died sometime back in an accident. Their mother works as a labourer. On Wednesday, their mother was out for work and when she returned, she did not find her children. She searched for her kids but could not trace them. She then approached the police to file a missing report. As the children were minor, an offence of kidnapping was registered at the Sinhagad police station.
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Meanwhile, some residents on BT Kawade Road saw the dead body of a boy floating in the canal, near Shivarkar bungalow. The residents informed the police. Soon, a police team and fire brigade reached the spot. “We got a call around 8.25 am. Our team reached the spot and removed the dead body of a boy from the canal. Later, around 9.25 am, we got a call again. Our team then went to the spot and removed a minor girl from the canal,” said fire officer Shivaji Chavan.
Police sent the dead bodies for post mortem and investigation was initiated to identify them and confirm the reason for their death.
Assistant police inspector Machhindra Nagargoje of Sinhagad Road police station said, “Primary investigation revealed that the children had entered the canal on Wednesday for swimming. We suspect that they were dragged by the water released from Khadakwasla dam. ”
