Teenage boy stabbed to death

A 17-year-old boy was on Thursday stabbed to death by some youths known to him in South Delhi’s Sangam Vihar area.

The body of the deceased, identified as Shivam, was recovered from a forested area on Wednesday, police said. Four suspects were identified and one among them was detained.

Shivam was a Class 9 student of a government school in Tughlaqabad and lived with his parents and four siblings. His father works as a tailor.

Investigation has hinted at a monetary dispute between Shivam and his friends to be the reason behind the murder. Police said more clarity would emerge once other arrests were made. “It has emerged that one or more of the suspects have criminal background,” said a police officer.

Shivam had left his home on Tuesday evening on a motorcycle with a friend. The two went to a forested area where three others were waiting for them. “Shivam was then repeatedly stabbed to death. They also attacked his face with knives in a bid to conceal his identity,” the officer said.

The body was spotted by a passer-by on Wednesday upon which the police were informed. A case of murder was subsequently registered with the Sangam Vihar Police Station. “The boy who was with Shivam was detained on the basis of suspicion,” the officer said.

The call data records of Shivam and his friend’s mobile phones have also been examined. It revealed that they were regularly in contact and were also in touch with a similar set of phone numbers. Further questioning of Shivam’s friend has revealed they used to borrow money among themselves at an interest.

Shivam’s body was handed over to his family after post-mortem at the AIIMS on Thursday. After initial probe, police said his friends were drug addicts. Shivam did not have any criminal history. Shivam’s friend claimed he had taken money from the other three and was finding it difficult to return or pay the interest. Police also questioned Shivam’s family members, who refused to be aware of any loan which he might have taken.