Mohali: Boy missing since Holi found dead in pond

A 14-year-old boy, who had been missing since March 14 (Holi), was found dead in a pond near Jhampur kaccha (makeshift) bridge near Chandigarh late Sunday night.

His family stated he had left for celebrating Holi while informing that he would return by noon. When he didn’t return, his family searched for him but to no avail. CCTV footage showed him heading towards a nearby farmhouse. The deceased’s father said his slippers were spotted near the farmhouse.

According to him, a few workers also claimed that they had seen the boy heading towards the bridge. The deceased’s father also said that he had no enmity with anyone in the village. According to him, he is not sure if his son fell into the pond by mistake.

Kharar DSP Karan Sandhu stated the slippers were found near the pond by some boys who went there to take a bath. “Passersby also claimed that he was running towards the pond after Holi celebrations. We do not know the exact reason behind his drowning as there is no CCTV at the spot,” he said.

The police have sent the body to the Kharar civil hospital for a postmortem examination. Further investigation will be initiated based on the autopsy report, police officials added.