The body of the 13-year-old boy, who was washed away in a drain at Majaltota in Monnur village on Monday evening, was found in an island near Netravathi bridge.
According to police, Mohammed Ismail Afridi, a class 8 student from St. Sebastian School in Thokkotu, had gone with his four friends to play on Monday evening. Afridi slipped into the drain while trying to pick the ball that had fallen in the drain.
The drowning came to light on Monday night when one of those accompanying Afridi revealed told a family member of the boy.
The family members and a large number of residents of Majaltotal and neighbouring Amblamogaru searched in the drain that joins Nethravathi. The police and Fire and Emergency Services personnel were also involved. “We had intimated fishermen operating along the Nethravathi. It was a fisherman who intimated about the body around 10 a.m. today,” said Afridi’s cousin Ershad. The body was taken to the Wenlock Hospital for post-mortem.
The young Afridi was buried near Kundur Jumma Masjid.
Distraught
A pall of gloom descended on the household of the young Afridi. “I am shocked to hear the narration of the police. My grandson had fear of water and he always stayed a foot away. He could not have gone to play near the drain,” said Afridi’s grand father Abdullah, who was taking care of Afridi since his childhood. “He has been forcefully taken to the drain by the four, who studied along with Afridi in the nearby Madrasa every evening,” he said and added: “we cannot do much with those children as we have lost our child.”
Afridi’s father Mohammed Ali said his son was the darling of the neighbourhood. “He took care of many younger children in the neighbourhood. Never did he allow any younger child to move around the well in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, none came to his help,” said a distraught Mr. Ali, who lives in Katipalla. Afridi was one of his five children. Afridi had joined the St. Sebastian School in June.
