Kolkata

KOLKATA: After a day-long search for magician Chanchal Lahiri (41), who disappeared while performing an underwater escape act in the Hooghly, police on Monday fished out his body from near Howrah.  

Later in the evening, Lahiri´s brother identified his body. An initial police probe established that Lahiri on Sunday had made several mistakes while attempting the stunt popularised by the famous illusionist and stunt performer Harry Houdini almost 100 years ago.  

Lahiri, who was to come out of the water after being thrown in with his hands and feet bound,, but also wore cumbersome clothing and guards that made swimming in the strong current extremely difficult. Magician PC Sarkar, a master of such stunts, said perhaps Lahiri needed a little more practice. Lahiri´s team, too, waited about 15 minutes after he was lowered into the water to raise an alarm.  

Lahiri’s hands and legs were tied with ropes and he was chained with six locks.  

When he did not surface for a long time, people panicked. Some onlookers said they saw a man struggling, seeking help, in the middle of the river. Police were informed and a team of divers from the disaster management group joined the rescue operation, said DC (Port) Syed Waquar Raza. Cops will probe if he took advantage of some lacunae on part of the administration and probably paid for it with his life. A case of negligence is likely to be registered, said a source.  

Magician’s body found; peers say he didn’t take proper precaution, Sources said Mandrake never mentioned in his permission letter that he was going to jump into the water. Lahiri stated the stunt was to happen on a boat or vessel. Hence, we allowed him permission, Raza said. The letter added that he wanted to take photographs and perform an extra event around 1. 30pm.  

He performed almost an hour earlier. Hence, river traffic police was absent, said a Port division officer. Police said Lahiri drowned around 12. 30pm and it is unclear whether he was performing or practising the act. Moments before the stunt on Sunday, Lahiri said, If you perform a dangerous trick perfectly, you are a magician. If you fail, it is always tragic.  

Mandrake´s body was fished out on Monday, Bound and chained, Mandrake was lowered 30 feet under water. Thousands watched and it is impossible the cops missed the entire episode when even politicians were present, claimed a friend on Monday.  

In 2013, when Lahiri performed the same stunt, he was assaulted by the crowd of onlookers, who claimed they felt cheated because they had seen through the trick.