A 17-year-old boy who went missing after leaving his home to meet his Instagram friend was lured to an isolated plot near Keralam's Thiruvananthapuram and killed by another 17-year-old following a dispute linked to a relationship, police said. The victim was hit on the head with a stone and strangled before his body was stuffed into a sack and dumped among banana plants.Police have arrested two people, including 22-year-old Umar Muftar and 18-year-old ITI student Ananda, and detained the 17-year-old named as the first accused for the murder of Abhiram.A 15-member special investigation team has been formed to investigate the case, while Abhiram's family has alleged lapses in the initial police response and raised doubts over whether the teenager acted alone.Abhiram left home at around 3 pm on Sunday after telling his family that he was going to meet a friend.

He later called his father and said he would return soon, but his phone was subsequently switched off. His family then filed a missing-person complaint at the local police station.

His body was recovered on Monday after police questioned some of his friends. It was found inside a sack among banana plants on an isolated plot in Sreekaryam.

The site, located nearly two kilometres from the main road, is close to a drain and can be reached only after walking some distance. Although there are houses nearby, the plot is not frequently used.Some of Abhiram's friends were reportedly familiar with the area and used to visit it.

A few of them had searched the surroundings on Sunday but apparently failed to notice the body. Police and forensic experts later examined the site and collected evidence.

A preliminary examination indicated that Abhiram had been strangled.WHAT LED TO THE MURDERAccording to police, the murder arose from issues linked to a relationship. The former girlfriend of the 17-year-old accused had entered a new relationship with one of Abhiram's friends.

Police said the minor accused wanted to meet that friend and used the Instagram account of his current girlfriend to begin chatting with Abhiram.Abhiram was then called to the isolated location and went there expecting to meet the girl. Instead, he found the teenage accused, who forced him to call his friend and bring him to the spot.

The friend did not arrive and Abhiram was attacked when he tried to leave.According to the statement attributed to the accused, he struck Abhiram on the head with a stone and strangled him. He then allegedly called Umar to help move the body.

Police said the two placed the body in a sack and tried to dispose of it in the isolated plot.Police said Ananda knew that her Instagram account was being used and was aware of the killing and the disposal of the body. She also offered advice on destroying evidence.Umar was described by police as an active participant in the incident and a habitual offender involved in other criminal cases, including robbery.

He is also facing proceedings under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act.A senior officer said the preliminary investigation indicated that the motive was "connected to a relationship" and that strain in the relationship and resulting issues among friends had led to the incident. The officer said there was a confession, adding, "Further details will be available during the course of the investigation."VICTIM'S FATHER QUESTIONS POLICE VERSIONAbhiram's father also said his son was not the intended target.

He alleged that the accused had called Abhiram using a phone belonging to the girl and after Abhiram arrived, he was asked to bring another friend to the spot.The father claimed that the group was looking for the other boy and killed Abhiram after he refused to cooperate. He said Abhiram and the teenage accused had studied at the same school but were not close friends, and that his son had no reason to visit the isolated location unless he had been specifically called there.However, he questioned whether the teenager could have committed the crime alone and suspected that the boy might have taken the blame to shield others because his age could result in comparatively limited punishment under the law."How could a 17-year-old have committed such a crime all by himself?

I suspect that he has been made to take the blame for others," he said.Abhiram's father alleged that police did not properly question the teenager when he was first taken into custody. He claimed that officers allowed the boy to leave with his father after asking him to return to the station the following morning."This should not be treated as an ordinary murder case.

I want the entire conspiracy behind my son's death to be brought out," Abhiram's father said.15-MEMBER SIT TO PROBE CASEThe Juvenile Justice Board sent the detained 17-year-old to an observation home for 10 days. A senior police officer said investigators were examining whether others were involved. "We are investigating.

There may be others involved in the matter. We have a strong case," he said.Thiruvananthapuram Commissioner Arul Krishna said a special investigation team had been constituted because of the sensitive nature of the case.

The 15-member team will be led by the Sreekaryam circle inspector and overseen by the Kazhakuttom assistant commissioner of police and the cyber wing.The commissioner identified the three accused as the 17-year-old first accused, Umar Muftar and Ananda. He said more people could be named in the case as the investigation progressed.Responding to the family's allegation of lapses, Commissioner Krishna said he did not want to counter their argument about lapses in the initial investigation. "I had checked with my officers about the same.

We had followed procedures and don't think there were such lapses," he said.Local residents staged a protest when the accused was brought to the area. Police said the investigation into the killing, the alleged use of the Instagram account, the disposal of the body and the possible involvement of more people was continuing.- Ends