Police on Friday arrested the boatman of the ill-fated country boat that capsized at Chandipal Ghat in Dhenkanal district while on its way to a Shiva temple on Monday evening claiming six lives.
The Bhuban police arrested Bauribandhu Behera from near Chandipal and forwarded him to court. The boatman had gone into hiding since the incident. Police had earlier lodged a complaint against Behera under Sections 280 and 504A of IPC. The tragedy had taken place when around 30-35 persons from Surapratappur village were travelling in the boat to celebrate Mahashivaratri at the Daudeswar shrine in Gondia block.
Meanwhile, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Northern) NBS Rajput began probe into the boat tragedy on Friday. Rajput along with district Collector Roopa Roshan Sahoo and other district administration officials visited Surapratappur and advised the villagers to prefer road transport over boat rides to reach their destinations.