Taking bath in Haryana canals can land you in jail

At least four such cases have come to light in the last three weeks in Karnal district where people were arrested on charges of taking a bath in the canal,which falls under the jurisdiction of Madhuban police station.

Their fault was that they were not aware about the prohibitory orders issued under Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure by the district magistrates across Haryana banning people from taking bath in the canals. Reason: there had been a number of accidents in the past,where people have drowned in the canals or have committed suicides.

Amarjeet Singh,who hails from Uttar Pradesh,and stays in the BSNL colony,Madhuban,was arrested on June 26,while taking a bath in the Awardhan canal. Amarjeet was locked up in the police station. He was released on bail later,but now faces a court trial,during which,if it is proven that he was indeed taking a bath in the canal,the court may slap him with six months’ imprisonment.

There are others like Amarjeet,including Mukesh and Monu,residents of Bacchita Jatan village,Madhuban (arrested on June 22),Dilshad,a resident of Uchha Sawana village,Karnal (arrested on June 23),Jagdish of Shera village,Panipat (arrested on June 24) who are now face prosecution for taking bath in the canals.

According to the police,Dilshad (24) works in the fields of a farmer in Karnal and had gone to the canal for taking a bath in the morning. “I had been taking bath at the same place for the last many years. But I was arrested while doing so on June 24,” Dilshad told the police.

Since these people violated the DM’s orders,they shall be prosecuted under Section 188 of IPC. The offence is non-compoundable.

The police,however,is not taking the violations lightly.

“On an average a couple of persons drown every week in the canals in the district. If the prohibitory orders are issued,people must comply and do not bath in the canals,” said Sub-Inspector Jagdish Mor,Station House Officer,Madhuban police station.