19-year-old arrested in Ghaziabad for kidnapping-cum-murder of schoolboy

Ghaziabad: A 16-years-old Class IX student of a private school in Indirapuram area of Ghaziabad was found murdered by his friends in Ecotech-III area of Greater Noida on Friday morning. Police said that the boy had gone missing on April 16 from Indirapuram and was found dead on Friday morning.

Acccording to the police, the deceased has been identified as Ayush Sharma, a student of St Francis School in Indirapuram. Ayush was missing from his home from April 16. The parents lodged a complaint at Indirapuram police station on April 17. The police said that they have arrested two accused including a minor who were planning to demand Rs 40 lakh from the family.

The police said that the boy was abducted by his friends as they wanted some money in order to clear their debts. However, the family members were unaware of them and that they were in contact with their son before.

Revealing how the kidnapping was planned, Vaibhav Krishna, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ghaziabad told reporters, "During initial investigation, it was revealed that the two suspects identified as Avdhesh (19) and a juvenile had allegedly called up the boy on his mobile phone at 1.37 pm on April 16, the day the boy had disappeared. On Friday, we had brought them for questioning."

The police said that the duo has confessed to have murdered the boy after an argument with the victim.

"During interrogation, they told the police that they had called the victim to Vaishali with money as they wanted to pay their debts and asked Ayush to get money from his father. However, the victim didn't take money along with him. In Vaishali, they had an argument over money so they planned to kidnap him and demand money from his father," Krishan continued.

Following the argument, the duo offered Ayush a drink laced with sedative and then allegedly took him on a motorcycle to Greater Noida. Accidently, Ayush fell from the bike and the accused panicked.

"The duo attacked the victim with a blunt stone-like object on his head and face, which was recovered around 2 pm on Friday from ecotech-III area buried in vacant plot covering the body with stones," said Krishan.

Police said that one more accused is involved in this planning. However, he is absconding and teams have been formed to nab him.