Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RJP)
Udupi, Jan 12: A school boy who went missing on Saturday January 10 from Kota near Kundapur was found dead on Monday January 12. His body was found in a well at Bannadi-Uplady.
Sughosh Adiga (9), who as studying in 4th standard, is the deceased. A 15-year-old boy has been taken into custody in this regard.
It is learnt that Sughosh returned from school on Saturday and started playing near his house when his neighbour, a 15-year-old boy, called him to play. Sughosh who left the house in a bicycle did not come back. Some people had spotted him playing in evening. The search by the family in the vicinity did not yield any results. The bicycle was found near the house later.
Police said that the minor boy who took Sughosh to play said that Sughosh had come to his house at 3 pm on Saturday. After having some snacks, the two boys got into some fight, during which Sughosh got injured and was unable to breathe. He died soon after. The other boy who panicked at this development threw Sughosh's body into the well near his house, said the police. When questioned later by Sughosh's family members, the boy and his uncle had said that Sughosh left their house after having snacks, and denied knowing his whereabouts.
Sughosh’s father passed away three months ago due to heart attack. His mother is also said to be sick. The family is poor. Sughosh’s elder brother who studies in first year PUC has the additional burden of looking after the family. Now the family is devastated by the death of the younger son.
The minor boy who has been taken into custody had lived in Bengaluru before, where his parents stay. On Sunday, a day after Sughosh went missing, when the police intensified the search and investigations, the boy too disappeared mysteriously. His uncle said that he had gone for tuitions and did not come back home. It is now learnt that the boy had left for his grandmother's house in Shivamogga. When he returned on Monday morning, some auto rickshaw drivers who spotted him informed the police and the boy was taken into custody.
During interrogation, the boy is said to have narrated the incident to the police, after which the well was located and Sughosh's body was found. The body will be retrieved after the boy is brought to the spot for identification.
Following the incident, angry locals pelted stones at the minor boy's uncle's house. Udupi SP Annamalai arrived at the spot and said that investigations are under way and urged the locals to remain calm.
Police said that a murder case will be registered.