Overview
- Deepak Sharma, 30, was attacked while bathing during his mother-in-law’s funeral rites and witnesses said a crocodile dragged him into the Saryu River on Wednesday.
- Local boatmen, villagers, police, revenue teams and an SDRF unit from Lucknow mounted an intensive search and recovered his body about 24 hours later.
- Medical officials reported multiple severe crocodile bite injuries, including attempts to sever the right arm, and ruled the wounds the cause of death.
- The family’s younger brother has alleged a possible conspiracy linked to tensions over Deepak’s love marriage, but police and officials report no evidence of foul play.
- Authorities say warnings about crocodiles on this stretch of the Saryu are routine, raising fresh calls to strengthen safety measures at riverbank cremation and bathing sites.