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.