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Fourth Suspect Arrested in Thiruvananthapuram Teen's Murder

Police say partial Instagram chats were recovered while the phone used to summon the 17-year-old remains missing and the Home Minister will review calls for a special investigation.

Overview

  • Police found 17-year-old Abhiram's body stuffed in a sack at Pangappara after he disappeared on November 1, and investigators say the killing followed a planned scheme tied to a romantic dispute.
  • Three people including a juvenile and Umar Muqthar were earlier detained and a fourth person, Aishwarya, was arrested on November 5 on suspicion of knowing about the plot and evidence tampering.
  • Detectives have recovered some Instagram chats from Umar’s phone but say the phone allegedly used to summon Abhiram has not been located, leaving gaps in the digital record.
  • Officers allege the suspects lured Abhiram to an isolated spot using a friend, then beat and strangled him before hiding his body in a sack, and a 16-member special team is probing the case.
  • Local LDF leaders have pressed Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to appoint a special investigation team and a special prosecutor and the minister has visited the family and will review the request.