Manoj Kumar Saini can be easily mistaken for just another roadside dweller. However, the 26-year-old is nothing short of a superhero in UP's Muzaffarnagar district. That's because in the last one year, Saini has risked his life on seven occasions and has saved the same number of people. Police and administration are now thinking of forwarding his name for the bravery award.
Saini runs a makeshift juice stall near Ganga canal in Muzaffarnagar's Bhopa area, which is also infamously known as the "suicide point". Situated around 16km from the main Muzaffarnagar city, Saini's stall is metres away from the canal bridge, from where unhappy and depressed people often jump to death.
"The first time when I saw a man jumping into the canal, I was shocked. For a minute I froze as I couldn't believe my eyes. Then in stantly I decided to save his life and jumped into the water without thinking about the consequences. This happened one year ago and since then every time I see someone taking the plunge, I jump into the canal to save him," Saini told TOI.
TOI
On Thursday, Saini saved the 70-year-old uncle of former Bhokaredhi nagar panchayat chairman Gyanaander Singh. He was rewarded Rs 1,000 for his act of bravery. "My uncle has been keeping ill and was depressed. I don't know how to thank this young man who risked his life to save an ailing old man," Singh said. "He is our desi Superman who saves people from dying. From youngsters to elderly villagers, everyone knows and talks about him," said local activist Amjad Khan, adding that Saini hasn't taken formal training in swimming, but he swims like a fish.
"I just know that I can't see someone dying in front of me. That is why I do what I do," Saini said. DSP of Bhopa area, Rajeev Kumar Gautam, said that the young man is doing a noble job and that they are thinking of recommending his name for the bravery award this year.