Bengaluru boy kidnap and murder case: Police nab two after encounter
Bengaluru police arrested Gurumurthy and Gopalakrishna after an encounter for kidnapping and murdering 14-year-old Nishchith, who was set ablaze. The accused were injured during the shootout and are under investigation for ransom motives.
Bengaluru: The city police have successfully arrested two accused in a case of kidnapping and murder of a boy named Nishchith (14) near Bannerghatta. The victim was abducted, murdered, and then set ablaze with petrol. The arrests were made after the police shot the suspects, Gurumurthy and Gopalakrishna, in the leg during an operation in the Kaggalipura Road area, falling under the Bannerghatta Police Station limits on Thursday night.
This swift action brought the culprits to justice within hours of the incident. Nishchith A was a Class 8 student of Christ School.He went missing from Arekere 80 Feet Road after he left home to attend a tuition class at 5 pm on Wednesday, the police said. His father, JC Achit, is an assistant professor at a private college.
Acting on specific intelligence regarding Gurumurthy and Gopalakrishna, Bannerghatta police proceeded to the location. During the encounter, the accused attempted to assault the police personnel with lethal weapons. In self-defense, Hulimavu Police Station Inspector Kumaraswamy and PSI Aravind Kumar opened fire, discharging a total of six rounds. The arrested suspects are currently receiving medical treatment at the Jayanagar Government Hospital.
A case of Nishchith’s abduction had been registered at the Hulimavu police station. Authorities indicate that the arrested individuals, particularly prime accused Gurumurthy, exhibited “psycho tendencies.” Gurumurthy also has a history of POCSOAct offences. However, the precise motive behind Nishchith’s abduction and murder remains shrouded in mystery. Police are investigating whether the boy was abducted solely for ransom or if there was another underlying reason.
Given the background of the accused, police are pursuing the investigation from two angles. It is reported that the accused had demanded Rs 5lakh as ransom but stalled in receiving the money, citing multiple locations. While Nishchith’s parents had collected the ransom and could be handed over. Gurumurthy, a car driver with a criminal background, is believed to be the mastermind behind Nishchith’s abduction and murder.
He had previously worked as a spare driver for the victim’s parents, allowing him frequent access to their home.