BENGALURU: A 13-year-old boy was kidnapped for ransom and brutally murdered by his drunk neighbour with a concrete hollow block, but was caught after he rammed into several vehicles while trying to flee towards Andhra Pradesh with the boy’s body in the boot of his vehicle.
The victim is Prajwal and the accused is Bhaskar Reddy residents of Vinayak Nagar in Yelahanka. The murder came to light after series of accidents and high drama after he was caught by locals and police.
On Wednesday evening, Bhaskar had taken boy in his Kia Seltos car (KA 02 MR 6768) saying he needed to bring crackers to immerse Ganesha. But even as Prajwal was in the car, Bhaskar demanded money from the boy’s father and also made a video to threaten the parents. But Bhaskar, who in a drunken state, hit the boy with hollow bricks in the car itself and murdered him. After the murder, he put the dead body in car boot and tried to escape.
Bhaskar Reddy, who was driving towards Andhra Pradesh, crashed his car against a wall and then caused a series of accidents on Bellary service road. He was then caught by locals. The Chikkajala police, who rushed to the spot on receiving information, were shocked to see the boy’s dead boy when they opened the boot.
Bhaskar Reddy then claimed that it was an accident and said the boy came across the car and died. However, as per his friend’s statement, he was going towards Andhra side with the boy’s body. Preliminary investigation revealed that the boy was murdered by hitting him with a hollow brick in such a way that his identity not recognizable. Bhaskar Reddy has been arrested and is being questioned by the police.
Bhaskar Reddy was working part-time with a private company. Both Bhaskar Reddy’s and the boy’s families are well-off. As they are neighbours, both families knew each other weel and would often go to each other’s house.
Prajwal’s father G K Manohar is into real estate and finance. On Wednesday, Bhaskar suddenly called and threatened boy’s father. Manohar then conveyed the matter to Bhaskar Reddy’s father and both started searching for Bhaskar and Prajwal. Both called the accused, scolded him and told him to return. The parents also informed the police.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East) Mithun Kumar said on Friday, “On airport road a Kia car had hit two cars. When the police went there, they saw the boy’s dead body in the car. When questioned, the accused said the boy had died in a road accident and that he was taking the body to dispose it. As there was suspicion, we have registered case of murder”.
Further, the DCP said, “Bhaskar and Prajwal both live in neighboring houses. The accused is originally from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, but was living in Yelahanka with his father, mother and brother. On Wednesday evening, Bhaskar and a friend had taken the car in front of Prajwal’s house and went to a vacant place under Bagalur police station limits. There, they hit the child’s head with a piece of eucalyptus wood, put him into a pit beside a compound and hit the head and chest part with two cement hollow bricks”.
“After that, the youths wrapped the body in an old cloth and put it into the car boot. They decided to go to Andhra Pradesh via Hosahalli, but in Hosahalli, they hit a light pole. They again hit a car parked on the road near Mahaveer Apartment on Bellary road and got stuck. As of now, one has been caught and another is missing. We are working to trace him and are investigating the motive for the murder”, the DCP added.
