Nayagarh: Five minor students have been detained in connection with the murder of a 12-year-old student at a madrasa in Nilapalli village under Sunakhala police outpost in Nayagarh district’s Ranpur area.
The suspects, accused of committing unnatural sexual acts before strangulating the victim, have been sent to the Angul Juvenile Correction Home for 13 days following a court order Saturday.
The victim, a resident of Badamba Gada village in Cuttack district, was reported missing by the madrasa authorities September 2.
His body was later found in a disused septic tank at the madrasa, prompting a police investigation that uncovered a chilling sequence of events.
According to Nayagarh Additional SP, the primary suspect, a 15-year-old student, had been engaging in unnatural sexual acts with the victim for nearly a year.
When he protested and threatened to inform his parents, the suspect allegedly subjected him to physical and mental abuse.
The prime suspect, along with four other students, attempted to kill the victim by pushing him into the septic tank August 31.
Though injured, he survived the initial attempt.
However, the primary suspect, accompanied by two accomplices, subjected the victim to further unnatural sexual acts September 2.
Subsequently, the prime suspect and two other students strangled the victim to death.
They dumped the body in the septic tank to conceal the crime.
The suspects informed the head master at around 1:30 pm that the victim was missing, maintaining a facade of normalcy thereafter.
The police investigation, supported by CCTV footage analysis, statements of madrasa residents, and a scientific team’s report, identified the 15-year-old as the mastermind.
A murder case was registered September 3 and all five suspects were presented before the Nayagarh Juvenile Justice Board.
The victim’s father arrived at the madrasa September 2 after being informed of his son’s disappearance.
Despite requesting access to CCTV footage, he received no cooperation from the madrasa authorities.
The family’s suspicions of foul play were confirmed when the body was found floating in the septic tank September 3.
The police have registered a case under Section 270 and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder.
PNN
