GHAZIABAD: The Loni MLA has alleged that some groups of anti-socials have been drowning visitors to “Chhoti Haridwar” in a canal where they take a holy dip and stealing their ornaments for the past few years.Nand Kishor Gujjar has sought an inquiry by the administration, alleging that the groups of divers pulled down devotees deep into the canal and tied rocks to their legs to ensure they did not surface. The same divers then posed as rescue workers and charged anything between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 to fish out the bodies, he alleged.The allegation came on a day a 50-year-old man from Meerut drowned while taking a dip in the canal. “Chhoti Haridwar” in Muradnagar has a small temple along a canal that has been carved out the Ganga. Hundreds of devotees, who cannot go to Haridwar, take a holy dip in the Ganga canal every day.In a letter to the district administration, Gujjar expressed apprehension that some local youths were involved in the racket.“People from Delhi, Haryana and nearby districts of Uttar Pradesh come here in a large numbers. These divers who are already hiding under water target the victims. They first drown the victim and tie their legs with ropes which are already attached to heavy rocks at the bottom. They then loot their jewellery. They once again come into the picture when relatives of the victims seek their help in locating the bodies,” the letter by the MLA states.Gujjar said several persons from his constituency had lost their lives by drowning in the canal. Every day, two to three bodies are found in the Ganga canal, he added.SHO (Muradnagar) Lakshendra Singh, who took charge on June 24, said: “No such cases of drowning have taken place at Chhoti Haridwar since I joined. I have deployed two police teams at the spot to ensure the safety of visitors. However, I will once again review the situation at the canal, given the MLA’s concern.”On Monday, a 50-year old Meerut resident, Nanu, who had come to the temple with four friends, drowned in the canal. Police said relatives of the deceased had refused to get a post-mortem done and taken the body back with themselves. Several divers had tried to save Nanu, but could not succeed as he had moved to the deeper part of the canal.

Stay updated with all the Ghaziabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.