Four children sneak into naval base, two drown

Karwar, July 31: Four children's fishing adventure on a lazy Sunday afternoon ended in a tragedy when two of them drowned in a canal in the Seabird Naval Base (INS Kadamba) in Karwar.

The four friends, all 12 years old, had sneaked into the high security naval base for their fishing expedition through a pipe which takes rain water to the sea. But in the heavy flow of water, Amit Chipkar and Satish Rathod couldn't make it, and were washed away. The other two (names withheld to protect identity), panic-stricken, crept back to safety, without alerting the security personnel of the base.

The incident came to light only when the parents of the missing children lodged complaint with the police Sunday night. When the police started making enquiries, the two boys told their parents about their escapade into the naval base, and about their friends who were washed away. After that, the police informed the naval base about the missing children. The Navy officers, in turn, alerted the fire force.

By Monday afternoon, fire force officials fished out the body of Satish from the canal. Amit's body is yet to be found.

The fire force vehicle being stopped by naval personnel at the Kamat Gate in Binaga in Karwar

The local people are, however, furious at the way the Navy handled the situation. They questioned the rational behind the Navy's decision seeking the help of the fire force, rather than asking its officers to search for the boys. When the fire force's vehicle reached the Kamat Enclave Gate at Binaga, the security personnel at the gate refused entry through the gate. After a verbal duel between the naval personnel and the local people, the security staff allowed the vehicle to enter the base through the Hoysala Gate, 3 km from the Kamat Enclave Gate.

Some local people and Vittal Naik, a social activist, blamed the Navy's negligence for the children's death and demanded an enquiry into the deaths. “How could children breach a high security zone,” Naik asked.

The Navy officers refused to react to the incident. Officers on condition of anonymity said that despite warnings, many local people sneak into the base for fishing through the pipes fixed for the easy flow of the rain water into the sea.

An officer said metal nets fixed to these pipes to stop people's entry about three years ago had to be removed because of protests. “Then people alleged that the nets led to blockage of rain water and flooding in the adjoining area.” The local people should ensure that they do not breach the security by entering the high security zones, the officers said.