Police in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, have arrested five individuals, including three minors, in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old boy whose private parts were allegedly removed as part of a plot to sell them, an official announced on Monday.
The two adults among the accused have been identified as Aamir Qureshi, 18, and Joheb Khan, 20. Investigations suggest that Joheb Khan conceived the scheme and informed the others that substantial sums could be earned by trafficking human body parts.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Zone 3) Ayush Gupta stated, “An unidentified body was found near Dhobighat at Chhota Talab under Shyamla Hills police station limits on August 10. The body was sent for post-mortem, which revealed stab wounds, indicating the victim had been attacked with a knife. Preliminary findings suggested murder, leading to the registration of a murder case at Shyamla Hills police station.”
He added, “Identifying the deceased was initially a challenge. A few days later, the victim’s mother came looking for her son. Since the police had informed the public via media and other platforms about a tattoo on the deceased’s hand, she was able to identify the body.”
After confirming the identity, police gathered information revealing that four individuals, including three minors and one adult, knew the victim and had allegedly stabbed him to death. The victim, a minor, sold pens around Iqbal Maidan, while the accused reside in the Talaiya area of the city.
DCP Gupta explained, “Joheb showed a minor accused a video claiming that body parts, specifically private parts, could be sold for a large sum. The minor and three others allegedly killed the victim. Following the murder, they contacted Joheb, who instructed them on how to remove the body part. They kept it for several days but, unable to find a buyer, eventually disposed of it.”
He continued, “Five individuals are currently named as accused in the case. Four allegedly committed the murder, while the fifth person guided them. The conspiracy appears to have been orchestrated by Joheb, who motivated them with promises of payment for the body part.”
According to police, the victim was allegedly lured on the pretext of resolving a dispute and was offered Rs 100 to accompany the accused. The knife reportedly used in the murder has been recovered. Further investigation is ongoing.