Thiruvananthapuram: Sreekaryam Police have officially recorded the arrest of three persons, including an 18-year-old girl, in connection with the murder of 17-year-old A D Abhiram, whose body was found stuffed in a sack and dumped in an isolated plot at Pangappara on Monday. A 16-member special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted under the leadership of the deputy commissioner of police (law and order) to carry out a comprehensive probe and establish the roles of all those involved in the murder.According to Thiruvananthapuram city police, the SIT comprises the deputy city police commissioner (North), two police inspectors, cyber investigation experts, forensic experts and other investigation officers. The team has been directed to examine all aspects of the crime, including the circumstances that led to the murder, identities and roles of the accused, possible involvement of other persons and the collection of scientific, technical and circumstantial evidence. On Tuesday, the accused were also taken to the spot for evidence collection.The investigation was launched following a missing-person complaint registered at Sreekaryam station under Kerala Police Act, 2011, early Monday. During the probe, police came across crucial information and evidence suggesting that the missing boy had been murdered. Subsequently, the case was altered to include a BNS section relating to murder.City police commissioner Arul R B Krishna said the initial probe established the involvement of a 17-year-old boy and Sreekaryam resident Umar Muftar S (22), who is on the Kaapa list. Both confessed to their involvement in the crime, while the role of the female accused, Anantha (18), is being examined. The teen was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and will be in its observation home until Nov 10.“Conspiracy running into days has been proved based on the statements of the accused. We suspect the involvement of more persons. The probe is in the right direction,” the commissioner said at a news conference on Tuesday.Preliminary investigation suggests that a dispute linked to a romantic relationship triggered the murder. The 17-year-old allegedly held a grudge against a friend of Abhiram, who had entered into a relationship with his former girlfriend. The accused allegedly planned to eliminate the youth and used Abhiram to lure him to the spot.Investigators suspect that the accused used the social media account and phone of the female friend to contact Abhiram and persuade him to reach Pangappara. When the intended target failed to arrive, an argument reportedly broke out between Abhiram and the accused. The latter allegedly strangled Abhiram using a belt before seeking Umar’s assistance to dispose of the body.The body was stuffed in a sack and abandoned among banana plants in an isolated plot near a temple. It was recovered on Monday evening following questioning of the suspects and examination of CCTV footage and phone records.Police have arrested Anantha of Manacaud, a female friend of Umar, in connection with the case. Investigators are examining her alleged knowledge of the crime and possible involvement. The role of one more female accused, Aishwarya, is also suspected, though she has not been taken into custody yet.
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