Three boys reportedly fatally stabbed their 16-year-old friend in East Delhi’s Shakarpur after he declined to treat them for his new smartphone, according to police reports from Tuesday. The victim, identified as Sachin, was a Class 9 student and was also 16 years old. The accused have been arrested.
Timeline of Events
On Monday around 7:15 PM, police on patrol noticed bloodstains near Ramji Samosa shop and launched an investigation, discovering that a boy had been stabbed by a group. Sachin was taken to LNJP Hospital but succumbed to his injuries due to two stab wounds on his back.
Motive and Investigation
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Apoorva Gupta informed PTI that Sachin lived in the area. He had been returning home after purchasing a mobile phone with a friend when they encountered the three boys. The group demanded a celebration or treat for the new purchase, but Sachin’s refusal led to an argument and ultimately the stabbing, Gupta explained.
A case has been filed under sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the BNS at the Shakarpur police station, and the suspects were apprehended in the locality. Police utilized CCTV footage to identify them and have also recovered the weapon used in the murder.
Related Incident
In a related incident in August, three individuals in Thane, Maharashtra, were arrested for abducting and murdering a 13-year-old boy after stealing his mobile phone valued at Rs. 15,000. The victim had been lured by a biker offering him a ride, who took him to a remote area where he and his accomplices snatched the phone, strangled the boy, and disposed of his body.
The Padgha police charged the suspects—Nitin Wagh, 40; Padmakar Bhoi, 20; and Ajay Manje, 21—all from Chawa village near Padgha—with abduction, murder, and destruction of evidence.