MINOR KILLS 13-YEAR-OLD BOY TO HIDE HIS SMOKING HABIT

A 13-year-old boy was strangled to death by a teen (16) to hide his smoking habit, in Gudamba police station area of Lucknow, police said. The incident occurred on Friday and the body of the deceased was recovered from a vacant plot on Monday, they said.

“The body of Shubham (13), was recovered from a vacant plot in the morning. We have detained the accused who is a minor. He has confessed to his crime,” said Sunil Kumar Sharma, ACP of the Gudamba police station area.

A missing complaint regarding Shubham was lodged at Gudamba police station on May 7 by his family members, the ACP said.

The accused reportedly told police that he was smoking at a vacant spot, on May 7, when his neighbour, Shubham saw him and threatened to tell his family members about this habit. “The duo had an altercation over this during which the accused strangulated Shubham with his hands that resulted in his death. The accused hid the body under bushes and returned home,” said the officer.

The body has been sent for postmortem examination, he added.

Meanwhile, family members of the deceased and locals of the area reached the police station in large number and staged a protest, demanding strict action against the accused. They returned following reassurance of swift action in the case.