15-year-old Pune boy allegedly killed by classmate for Rs. 50,000

Mangalore Today News Network

Pune April 2, 2012 :  Fifteen-year-old Shubham Shirke was allegedly kidnapped and later murdered for a ransom of Rs. 50,000 by three teenagers, one of whom was his classmate.

According to the police, the classmate, Akshay Bhagat, called Shubham to his house on Saturday afternoon, where two other boys were also there.

In a few hours, Akshay called Shubham’s father and demanded the ransom, saying that his son’s life was in danger.

What is now emerging is that Shubham was murdered even before that call was made.

However, his father followed the instructions given to him, and left the cash on a footpath that was collected by one of the boys who on came on a bike.

"They asked for 50,000, I told them I have only 15,000. I requested them to please make me speak to Shubham, they said he is fine and will return," said Mahadev Shirke, victim’s father.

But when Shubham didn’t return home as promised by the kidnappers, his father registered a police complaint and gave them the number of the motorcycle.

The police then picked up Akshay, who confessed that the three of them had killed Shubham. His body was found in Dighi area yesterday morning.

The police said the boys wanted to make a quick buck and claim they were inspired by TV serials.

"They told us that they watched television serials and thought about the plan. They wanted to live a lavish life," said Motichand Rathod, Senior PI, Vishrantwadi Police Station.

The three boys - two of whom are 15 years old and the third is 19 - have been arrested on charges of kidnapping and murder.

Shubham had appeared for his Class X exams this year from Priyadarshani English medium school in Bhosari area of Pune.

What makes this case of kidnapping and murder for ransom more shocking is the involvement of young boys. Even as Shubham’s grieving family struggle to come to terms with their loss, the role of two 15 year olds in his death has stunned a society, grappling with teenage crime.

 Courtesy: Deccan herlad