Ishfaq-ul-Hassan/DNA India

Srinagar, Apr 2: There’s an unhealthy buzz in the Kashmir valley after a 12-year-old murdered in cold blood a Class IV student, just because he wanted his mobile phone. The shocking incident occurred in the remote Sarmarg village of Kulgam district.

Sub-divisional police officer Bashir Ahmad said 12-year-old carpet weaver Imitiyaz Malik had been arrested for killing Zakir Malik.

“A few days ago, we recovered the body of Zakir from a stream near Sarmarg. Imitiyaz, who was seen with Zakir before he disappeared, was picked up for questioning soon after,” Bashir said.

What sent shivers down the spine of the police was the bone-chilling confession by Imitiyaz that he killed Zakir because he wanted his mobile. “Zakir had gone to another village to charge his cell because Sarmarg has no electricity. On his way back, Imitiyaz stopped him, hit him with a stone and snatched the mobile,” Bashir said.

The police later raided Imitiyaz’s house and recovered the phone with a Sim card and a charger. “We are investigating who threw the body into the stream,” Bashir said.

In another incident, a 14-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide at Frestabal-Pampore in south Kashmir. Aneesa Tariq’s mother had abandoned her to marry another person after her father died three years ago. “She was living with her grandfather, who is very poor,” said Sardar Khan, superintendent of police, Awantipora.