Bettiah: Police on Thursday arrested four people for allegedly abducting and murdering a 15-year-old boy who had gone missing while returning home from school in West Champaran district. The arrests followed the recovery of the victim’s body from the Tilave river.The victim, Sonu Kumar, a Class VIII student from Inarwa village under Kangli police station, had been missing since June 30. His mother, Sharda Devi, informed police that he had not returned home after leaving school.In a written complaint lodged on July 1, she alleged that Sonu had been abducted by Shamshul Ansari alias Pogia and 17 others while he was returning from Senuwariya Private School. Based on the complaint, Kangli police registered an FIR and launched an investigation.Acting on the instructions of West Champaran (Bettiah) SSP Kumar Gautam, a special investigation team led by the Narkatiaganj SDPO was formed to probe the case.Police arrested four accused — Shamshul Ansari alias Pogia and Muslim Ansari of Maswas village in West Champaran, Ajay Kumar alias Sagar of Bhelahi in East Champaran, and Sahil Kumar of Siswa village.According to SSP Gautam, the murder stemmed from a personal dispute involving Sonu’s younger sister. Shamshul was allegedly in a relationship with the girl but became upset after she started talking to another youth. Police claimed Shamshul had complained to Sonu, who supported his sister and allegedly threatened him.“Angered by this, Shamshul, on the advice of his father and younger brother, conspired with associates and a juvenile to eliminate Sonu,” the SSP said.Investigators said the accused intercepted Sonu near a cremation ground while he was returning from school on June 30. After other children accompanying him left, the accused allegedly rendered him unconscious and took him on a motorcycle to a bamboo grove near the Tilave river, where he was strangled with his gamcha.Police said Shamshul later instructed his associates to dump the body in the river to destroy evidence after learning that police were searching for him. Based on disclosures made during interrogation, police recovered the body from the river.Further investigation is underway, and police are examining the role of the juvenile and other accused named in the FIR.
