AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

NT Bureau
Chennai, Dec 28:
 

ROWS OF SORROW: Locals at Virugambakkam gathered near Aravind's house. The young boy was kidnapped and found murdered yesterday. Photo: R Krishnamurthy

        The police, at least till the moment of writing, are still trying to crack the mystery murder of the 11-year-old boy in Virugambakkam. Meanwhile, a day after the boy who found murdered near his house, the whole locality looked heavy with anguish and anger. The police have formed 15 teams to pursue the murderers. Some top police officials have confirmed that they have latched on to some vital leads. But the police are naturally loath to share the details at this stage.

        Talking to newsmen, Commissioner of Police Lethika Charan said the police, with the forming of special teams, would crack the case soon. The police are also questioning over 70 STD booth operators with regard to the case, she said.

        The young boy Aravind, son of Karthikeyan, an HR personnel at a private hospital was kidnapped from near his home in Virugambakkam at around 8 p.m. on Tuesday and was found murdered overnight near a bush at Gandhi Nagar Telephone Exchange in Virugambakkam.

        Ironically, the family was aware of his kidnap only when they received a call at around 9 p.m. with a stranger demanding a ransom amount of Rs 5 lakh. Immediately Aravind parents registered a complaint with Virugambakkam police station as the caller threatened of dire consequences.

        On watching the movement of police personnel visiting Aravind's house frequently, the kidnappers could have murdered the boy and later dumped his body near his house, a senior police officer said.

        Meanwhile, his body was sent for post mortem this morning at Royapettah General hospital and the report revealed that he bore deep cut injuries on his head following attack with sharp metal.

        From an eyewitness statement, police also suspect that the boy who was hiding behind a car while he was playing hide and seek with his friends, might have watched miscreants involving in anti social activities and this could have led to his kidnap.

        Another senior police official said 'We are investigating the case in all possible angles and this murder might have been committed not just for money'.

        It may recalled that on 23 September, 10-year-old Alexander from Shastri Nagar Adyar was kidnapped by his own uncle and was later released.

        But in all these cat and mouse games, one thing has become clear that abducting a child is getting 'popular' among the malcontents in the society. The recent kidnappings have sowed the seeds of doubts in many people's mind about the safety of children.

        The stunning crime has sent shock waves among the neighbours here.