Thanjavur police have detained three college students in connection to the abduction and murder of a 19-year-old engineering student near Kumbakonam. Investigations revealed that what was initially thought to be an abduction for ransom, was in fact a planned murder fuelled by jealously over the victim’s closeness to a mutual female friend.
On January 4, S Munthazir, a second-year student of a private college in Mayiladuthurai, had left his residence to meet a relative. He reportedly told his mother, Mumtaj Begum, that he will be heading to Thiruvidaimarudur to meet a friend before that. But when his mother called him at around 8.15 pm, an unknown person answered the phone and claimed that her son was being abducted and taken to Coimbatore. He further said that Munthazir would be freed only if she paid Rs 5 lakh. When Mumtaj tried calling the number again, it was switched off. She then approached the Thiruvidaimarudur police to file a complaint. The next morning, however, her son was found dead in Thirubuvanam with his throat slit.
“The ransom call was just to divert attention from the real reason for the murder. Three boys were involved and they were all known to the victim. They were friends,” says an investigating officer. “The victim and another 19-year-old boy named Ijaz Ahmed liked the same girl who was studying BA Literature in a college near Thirubuvanam. A few days ago, Munthazir put up a photo with that girl on Facebook and sent it to Ijaz as well,” he adds.
Ijaz was allegedly angered by Munthazir’s closeness to the girl and plotted with his friends to kill Munthazir.
“On Friday, Ijaz told Munthazir to come meet him under the ruse of a surprise. When the victim arrived there, he was told to close his eyes for the surprise and then his throat was slit,” reveals the officer.
The two friends accompanying Ijaz were his college-mates Mohammad Sameer and a minor. Police are currently in the process of recording their statements and booking them under appropriate sections. The final FIR is yet to be drafted.