Teenager strangles 10-year-old, dumps the body in a drain

MUMBAI: While investigating a case of a missing child, Sakinaka police suspect they have uncovered a murder. A 15-yearold boy has been held for his involvement in the disappearance of a 10-year-old boy.

The search for the 10-yearold’s body is underway since the police believe he may have been strangled to death by the 15-year-old with his hands and the body dumped in a drain. The Sakinaka police said they have not registered a case of murder as they have not found the body yet.

According to the police, the 10-year-old went out to play with his friend on Thursday evening and did not return, following which his parents started looking for him in their locality at 90 Feet Road in Sakinaka.

“The victim’s father runs a small shop in Sakinaka. He received a call around 10.30pm from a man asking for ₹5 lakh or else his child will be in danger. The parents then approached the police with the number and filed a complaint that their son had been kidnapped,” said a police officer, on the condition of anonymity.

The police traced the number to the 15-year-old, who has been taken in for questioning. Initial investigations suggest the 15-year-old met the 10-year-old on Thursday and that the younger boy may have been sexually assaulted. The police believe the 15-year-old made the fake ransom call after committing the murder, in the hope of deflecting attention from himself.

The police also suspect the sexual assault led to a fight that culminated in the murder.

They also learnt that the teenager borrowed a two-wheeler from a person he knew, and suspect this was to dump the 10-year-old’s dead body. The police are still investigating whether the 15-year-old acted alone or if he had any accomplices.

“No one has been taken into custody and the 15-year-old is still being questioned,” said the officer.