A jeweller's son was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by unidentified persons near his residence in Gandhi Nagar area here.
The body of 13-year-old Utkarsh, son of Mukesh Verma, was found lying in a drain in the area late yesterday night, hours after he was reported missing and found to be abducted.
"The boy studied at Vivekanda School. He had left for school at 7:30 in the morning and was dropped by the cab like everyday at Sant Ram Marg at 2:10 pm. He generally walked from the spot to his home in lane number 2 which was a few metres away. But when he did not return home yesterday, his family and locals launched a search for him in the area and informed us," said a police official.
Police soon registered a case of kidnapping. When questioned, the school cab driver told them that he had dropped the boy like everyday. His version was supported by the CCTV footage of JDB School in the other lane in which Utkarsh was seen crossing the lane but did not came out of the other end.
"This indicated that the kidnappers took the boy from the lane. The first ransom call was received on Utkarsh's mother, Mamta's phone at 7:30 pm. The kidnappers claimed that they had kidnapped the child and demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore. They also said that they would call again to discuss the place the money has to be delivered," the official said.
The kidnappers called again at 9:30 pm on Utkarsh's father Mukesh Verma's phone and asked him to arrange the money till morning.
As police tried to trace the kidnappers and the family tried to arrange the ransom, Utkarsh's body was found lying in a drain in Block No 12 in the same area this morning.
The boy was wearing his school uniform. The body was identified by his father following which it was sent for post-mortem. It was then handed over to the family who performed the final rites in the evening.
Police has added section of murder in the already registered FIR of kidnapping in the case at Gandhi Nagar police station.
Initial investigations have indicated that an insider was involved in the case as all the happenings which were taking place inside the house was known to the kidnappers.
"The kidnappers were assured that the money will be given in the morning and police will not be informed. However, as we made efforts to trace them, they shut down their phone. It seems that someone had informed them about our movements and hence he was killed in the night itself," said an official.
