VARANASI, April 14 -- :Six boatmen have been booked for violating safety norms and operating boats negligently on the River Ganga in Varanasi. Police also seized six boats during the drive, officials said.

A police officer said cases were registered against three boatmen at Dashashwamedh police station and three others at Bhelupur police station under section 282 (rash navigation of a vessel or boat) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on Sunday.

Police teams from Bhelupur, Dashashwamedh and Kotwali launched a joint patrolling drive on the Ganga. During the operation, which continued till late evening, several boats were found carrying passengers without life jackets. Many boats were also carrying passengers beyond their permitted capa...