Two minor boys were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly murdering a 38-year-old man, who was in a relationship with the mother of one of the accused. The arrested, aged 16 and 17, plotted the murder to save the honour of the family, police said.
The victim has been identified as Lokesh Gangwar, a farmer in Bareilly. The incident came to light after some people alerted police about a body in a mustard field within the C.B. Ganj Police Station area.
Further investigation revealed the identity of the victim, who was also on bail after facing charges related to raping a woman.
Police said Lokesh was reportedly living with the mother of one of the accused. The minor boy, along with his cousin, decided to kill Lokesh as he was deeply upset by the way his mother entered into a relationship with Lokesh, reported The Times of India.
Lokesh is also said to have entered into a dispute with the woman's husband which further angered their son.
The boys set out on a bike on January 21 in search of Lokesh. They found him near the Delhi highway intoxicated. The boys enquired him about the woman. Lokesh is said to have told them that she was in Maheshpur. After that, the minor boys strangled Lokesh with a belt. They then threw his body into the nearby mustard field.
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The police zeroed in on the minor boy who confessed to the police about the murder and his cousin's involvement. The accused later confessed, and we recovered the belt and bike used in the crime. Lokesh's phone and his pair of sandals were also recovered," SP Manush Pareek told reporters.
Police said the accused has been sent to under the BNS sections of murder and for hiding evidence. They have been sent to juvenile home.