Raigarh: A 38-year-old man reportedly threw his three minor sons into a river before jumping into it apparently over a family dispute in Raigarh district in Chhattisgarh state, police said.
A search operation was launched to trace them in the river, which is flooded after heavy showers, according to police.
"The incident took place early on Sunday at a bridge on Maand river in Kharsia," Raigarh Additional Superintendent of Police Abhishek Verma said.
The man, identified as Kartikeshwar Rathiya, a native of Edu village, was heading to Barra village along with his sons Khirsagar (5), Narmada (3), eight-month-old Tej Prakash and another child on a motorcycle.
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He suddenly stopped the vehicle on the bridge and threw three of his children into the river and later jumped into it.
His wife who was following the man managed to save one child.
Reports said, police arrived at the scene with divers and started searching the river. However, none of them has been traced so far.
A family dispute is believed to be the reason behind the extreme step taken by Rathiya, a worker in the electricity department of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL).
Further investigation is underway, police said.
PTI inputs
