Lured through Instagram, killed over love triangle? Keralam teen found stuffed in sack, 3 held

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Abhiram MD, 16, a class XI student of NSS HSS Paruthippara who was reported missing from his home in Sreekaryam on Sunday, was allegedly murdered, with police locating his body inside a sack that was abandoned in a vacant plot at Pangappara.City commissioner Arul RB Krishna said that three persons, including a minor girl, were taken into custody in connection with the case.A 17-year-old boy and Sreekaryam resident Ummar, who is also on the police goon list, allegedly initiated the crime.Both confessed to the crime, he said, adding that the girl's role in the crime will become clear as the investigation progresses.Preliminary probe indicated that a dispute allegedly linked to his friendship with a girl may have led to the murder.The police suspect that the accused used the girl's Instagram account to lure him to an isolated location. Investigators believe Abhiram was strangled using a belt and his body was subsequently stuffed inside a sack and abandoned at the vacant plot.The minor is suspected to have been close to the girl, while investigators are examining whether Abhiram's interaction with her had triggered a dispute between the boys.Abhiram had left his home around 3pm on Sunday, telling his family that he was going to Pangappara to meet friends. His relatives said he had received a phone call just before he left his home.He later called his father and reportedly said that he would return home soon. However, when he failed to return home by evening, his family organized a search to locate him. Repeated attempts to contact him proved unsuccessful as his mobile phone was switched off.The family subsequently approached Sreekaryam Police and lodged a missing-person complaint.The police launched an investigation using the boy's mobile phone details and expanded the probe to his circle of friends. Investigators examined CCTV footage, phone and tower location details, which eventually helped them trace the sequence of events and locate the body at Pangappara.The family said Abhiram appeared normal and did not exhibit signs of anxiety or depression before he left his home.Relatives alleged that there was a delay in tracing Abhiram after they approached the police. Police are ascertaining whether more people were involved in the crime.The suspects are being questioned now and inquest has been completed.The body was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College for autopsy.Stay updated with the latest Thiruvananthapuram news. Download the TOI App.