New Delhi, Aug 23: A rescue operation is underway in southeast Delhi Jasola area to locate a 15-year-old boy who fell into an open drain while trying to retrieve a kite and was swept away by a sudden rush of water.

The teenager, identified as Mithun, was reportedly chasing the kite when he fell into the drain on Saturday morning. Nearly 24 hours after the incident, rescue teams have continued searching the drain and surrounding areas, but the boy has not yet been located.

The child’s elder brother, Joginder, said the teenager was a Class 8 student and was trying to retrieve a kite when the incident occurred.

“…He was in Class 8. He was trying to retrieve a kite… My sister-in-law saw him fall, and the water came rushing and swept him away,” he told media.

“No traces of him till now, when he fell down the waterflow was very fast and as we reach near the drain he was swept away.”

The incident has prompted a multi-agency search operation involving the Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Boat Club teams. Personnel have been carrying out searches in the drain and nearby areas in an effort to trace the missing teenager.

According to the Delhi Fire Service, information about the incident was received at 11:54 am on Saturday. Following the alert, two fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the location and a search operation was launched.

The East Delhi district administration, Boat Club team and NDRF personnel have also joined the rescue effort. Teams are examining the drain and surrounding stretches where the teenager may have been carried by the water current.

The search has continued despite the difficulty of operating in the drain and the possibility that the strong flow may have carried the boy farther from the point where he fell.

Family members have remained at the site as rescue personnel continue their efforts to locate Mithun. The incident has also raised concerns over the dangers posed by open drains, particularly during periods of heavy water flow.

Officials and rescue personnel have been working to trace the teenager’s possible route after he was swept away. Teams are searching both the drain and adjoining areas, while efforts remain focused on locating him as soon as possible.

As the search remains underway Mithun’s family is awaiting news from the rescue teams, hoping that the ongoing search will lead to his safe recovery.

New Delhi, Aug 23: A day after Union Minister of State and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary hit back at Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘chavanni’ remark, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday accused the SP chief of “insulting” the Jat community.

While addressing a recent event, Yadav said: “I don’t know from where all people came to form an alliance with us (SP). We had increased their value from ‘chavanni’ (25 paise) to one full rupee, yet they left us and went away.”

His remark was seen as mocking the RLD President.

Taking to X on Saturday, Jayant Chaudhary responded, saying: “In the battle of politics, if you had to use some cheap words, you could have at least said them taking my name, It wouldn’t have been an issue.”

“Targeting the Jat community and saying we taught ABCD ? I’ve seen this arrogance up close and I believe such behavior only brings downfall!” he remarked.

Speaking to media, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma said if Akhilesh Yadav is calling Jayant Chaudhary ‘chavanni’ without taking his name, it means that he is calling the same “to the entire Jat community”.

“Chaudhary Charan Singh (Jayant’s grandfather) was a top leader, not only of the Jat community, but also among the farmer leaders. Calling his grandson ‘chavanni’ is an insult to the entire community,” he added.

Referring to Jayant Chaudhary, Sharma said: “He was born in a such a family whose blood carries nationalism and patriotism.”

BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said the reason why Akhilesh Yadav is “concerned” about Jayant Chaudhary is because the SP chief is “feeling very isolated and troubled”.

“He (Akhilesh) knows that the Congress Party is a liability and that whatever number of seats they are given, they will lose all of them. In such a situation, he is trying to keep his options open by reaching out to Om Prakash Rajbhar at times and Jayant Chaudhary at others,” he told media.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Narendra Kumar Kashyap added to the criticism, saying, “Akhilesh Yadav’s ego is at its peak now. He is insulting RLD leaders and Chaudhary Charan Singh ji. He is also insulting the Jat community.”

“Since RLD is a trusted ally of the NDA, all alliance partners are standing with the party,” he asserted

In a warning to the SP chief, Kashyap said: “You’ll (Akhilesh) have to bear the consequences of insulting RLD.”

Bengaluru, Aug 23: An incident in which a man was hacked to death in full public view at a traffic signal near the Madiwala underpass came to light on Sunday, raising fresh concerns over the safety of residents in Bengaluru.

The victim, identified as Suhail, a resident of Mangammanapalya and a medical shop owner, was attacked by a group of assailants as he was on his way from Madiwala towards Koramangala on Saturday night.

The incident occurred late at night when Suhail had stopped his motorcycle amid a traffic jam on the main road. Four men who arrived on two motorcycles allegedly attacked him with swords before fleeing the spot. Suhail suffered severe blood loss and died at the scene.

Police suspect that the murder could be an act of revenge linked to an earlier murder case in Bandepalya.

On January 13, a man named Shabbir was murdered in Bandepalya, and Suhail’s brothers Kaleem, Nazir and another brother were allegedly involved in that case. Investigators suspect that Suhail may have been targeted in retaliation, despite having no connection with the Shabbir murder case.

Police sources said Suhail had no criminal background and was not an accused in the earlier case. His murder is therefore suspected to have been driven by hostility towards his brothers.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Mohammad Sujeetha, CCB DCP Haribabu and Joint Commissioner of Police Ramesh Banoth visited the crime scene and inspected the spot.

Following the murder, Suhail’s younger brother Nazir reportedly arrived at the scene and vowed revenge. He said Suhail was not merely his elder brother but was like a father to him, and warned that he would not spare those responsible for his killing.

Police suspect that the assailants had been planning the murder for several days and had been closely monitoring Suhail’s movements. According to preliminary information, the attackers allegedly followed him and executed a pre-planned attack while he was travelling on his motorcycle.

After the murder, the assailants reportedly abandoned the weapons at the scene and escaped.

Three special teams have been formed to track down the suspects. Police have seized the CCTV DVR from the area and are examining footage to identify the attackers and trace their movements before and after the crime.

Investigators are also trying to establish why Suhail, who lived in Mangammanapalya and operated a medical shop in Bommanahalli, travelled towards Madiwala. Police are examining who last contacted him before he left the medical shop and other details surrounding his movements.

The brazen murder in a busy public area has triggered concerns over safety in the city, particularly as the attackers allegedly assaulted the victim in front of members of the public before fleeing the scene. Police are continuing their investigation to establish the exact motive and identify all those involved.

When asked whether any accused have been arrested in connection with the case, DCP South East Mohammad Sujeetha declined to comment. Further investigation is on.