Bokaro, Feb. 14: A Valentine’s Day party on the banks of the cooling pond on the premises of Bokaro steel plant turned into tragedy for a group of teenaged boys today after one of them fell in the pond and drowned.

The incident took place around noon. Fourteen-year-old Amit Kumar, a student of Class VIII of MGM School, had gone to the pond with two classmates, Baliram Kumar and Bhagirath Kumar, and younger brother Ajit.

Ajit, a student of Class VI in the same school, alleged that although Amit did not know swimming, Bhagirath pushed him into the water. Bhagirath has been picked up for interrogation. Amit used to stay with his father Vijay Paswan at Sector VI.

According to police, the boys had planned to have a little party on Valentine’s Day and had pitched in money with which they bought chips, monkey nuts and fruits before heading to the pond. Sources said Baliram and Bhagirath went for a dip while Amit, who did not know swimming, remained on the bank with Ajit. A few minutes later, Bhagirath came out and asked Amit to join them. When the latter refused, Bhagirath started teasing him, calling him a coward. As the pestering continued, Amit slipped and fell into the water, never to come up again. Later, some people fished out his lifeless body.

A sobbing Bhagirath denied the allegations. Bokaro SP Aaket Singh said investigation was on.