Five youths arrested for friend’s murder

The incident came to light when the youths—-Amit Chauhan,Umesh,Irfan,Babbu and Mahinder— detained for interrogation after their friend Bhatnagar went missing on August 23,confessed to their crime.

Moradabad SP (City) SC Baghel said the post-mortem report has not stated the exact cause behind the death and the viscera has been sent for the forensic test. The arrested youths had destroyed victim’s cellphone and also concealed his clothes in the thickets after murdering him,Baghel added.

Civil Lines police station SHO SN Singh,who conducted the probe,said prime accused Chauhan confessed to the police that he had developed animosity for Bhatnagar as both of them had friendship with a girl. Chauhan,accompanied by four other friends,had picked up Bhatnagar from his house for a picnic the river on August 22.

At the river,Chauhan dragged Bhatnagar into water and with the help of other accused smothered him under water causing his death. When Bhatnagar’s father inquired later,they feigned ignorance and said he had gone elsewhere leaving them at the river,the SHO said.