KOTTAYAM: The body of the village officer who jumped into the Manimala River has been found. The body of N Prakash, special village officer at the taluk office in Changanassery and native of Kangazha was recovered on the third day. The body was found Wednesday morning about a kilometer away from the Manimala bridge.

Prakash jumped into the Manimala River from the big bridge Monday morning at 10 am. A search by fire and rescue service unit and scuba divers were on for the last two days. The body was found amidst this.

The police said Prakash also a leader of the joint council jumped into the river deliberately to commit suicide. However, the reason behind it is not clear. Yanush Lugun, a migrant worker who first saw Prakash jumping to the river came to save him.

Yanush Lugan, a native of Assam and his friend Vijay saw Prakash jumping into the river while working at a nearby chicken stall. Yanush without thinking anything jumped to save him. Yanush caught Prakash’s hands and while swimming towards the shore with him, he skipped from the hands of the former. Later Yanush had to return without him.