Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal

Bhopal, Aug 17: Police have arrested five people in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old boy whose body was recovered from Chhota Talab in Bhopal last week, days after he went missing, officials said on Monday.

The teenager had gone missing from the Iqbal Maidan area on August 6. His body was recovered from Chhota Talab on August 11 and was identified by his family on August 14 based on his clothes and slippers.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that the teenager had been murdered and also reported injuries to his private parts, prompting police to launch a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhopal Zone-3, Shailendra Singh said police had received information about the recovery of a body in the Zone-3 area. The body was sent for post-mortem, which confirmed that the death was a result of murder.

Following the post-mortem findings, police registered a case at the concerned police station and questioned several suspects. Five accused persons have so far been arrested.

Police are interrogating the arrested suspects and examining evidence to establish their individual roles in the crime. Efforts are also underway to apprehend other suspects.

Singh said further arrests are expected within the next one to two days as the investigation progresses.

The motive behind the murder has not yet been officially established. Investigators are also examining the injuries mentioned in the post-mortem report and their possible connection with the circumstances of the killing.

Police have not confirmed reports of an alleged Rs 2 crore financial motive or claims that a body part was removed as part of an alleged plan to send it abroad. Officials are verifying all such claims as part of the investigation.

Investigators are also looking into a separate complaint filed by another 17-year-old boy, who has alleged that an attempt was made to kill him. Police are examining whether the two incidents are connected.

Police have appealed to the public not to believe or circulate rumours surrounding the case and urged people to cooperate with the investigation.

Further arrests are expected as investigators continue to collect evidence and reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the teenager's death.