Delivery boy kidnapped, murdered in Bengaluru; kin of girl he liked prime suspects

Bengaluru: A 19-year-old delivery boy was kidnapped and murdered in Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru, police officials said on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Preetham R, a resident of Prasanth Nagar in Devanahalli. He worked as a delivery executive for a quick commerce firm.

The police suspect that five people — including Shrikanth, a relative of the girl Preetham reportedly liked — were involved in the murder and have launched a manhunt to trace them.

A complaint filed by Preetham’s father Ramachandra stated that he had been working as a delivery boy for the past five months after completing Class 12. He would typically leave home around 5.30 pm and return between 2 am and 3 am.

On Friday, he left at 5.30 pm, returned home at 9 pm for dinner, and left again for work. However, he did not return home that night.

The following morning, around 6 am, Ramachandra and his elder son, Vijayaraghavendra, visited Preetham’s workplace, where his friend Moni informed them that the motorcycle he used for work was still there. Moni also told them that Preetham liked a girl from Gantiganahalli.

As per the FIR, Moni alleged that Shrikanth had previously warned Preetham to stay away from the girl and had even forcibly taken him away and beaten him about five to six days earlier.

Moni claimed that around 10.30 pm on Friday, Shrikanth and four others kidnapped Preetham in their car. He said that Preetham’s phone remained switched off thereafter.

The next day, around 7.15 am, a passerby alerted the police after spotting a body behind the Government Lower Primary School in Niragantepalya. It was later identified as Preetham. His mobile phone was missing, the FIR stated.

Preetham’s shirt was torn, and there were injuries on his mouth and face, the FIR noted.

The Devanahalli police have registered a case of murder and launched an investigation. “Teams have been formed to trace the suspects,” a police officer said.