BENGALURU: Two brothers, who had allegedly kidnapped a student for ransom and murdered him when he tried to escape, have landed in police custody.
The accused had made a call to the father of the victim, 20-year-old Tarun, demanding Rs 50 lakh after having dumped the latter’s body in a storm water drain in Rajarajeshwarinagar.
A hotel management student and son of wholesale vegetable merchant Mani, Tarun had gone missing since Sunday after he left home on Mudaliar Street in Bharathinagar to buy crackers from Hosur. His body was found on Tuesday inside a bag that was thrown into the drain. The accused are Tazimulla Pasha, 39, of JJ Nagar and Nazir, 26, of Valmikinagar.
Tazimulla Pasha had worked with Tarun’s father Mani. “Pasha would drive the mini goods truck that delivered fruits and vegetables to marriage halls and other places, supplied by Mani. Earlier this year, Tazimulla had asked for a loan of Rs 1.5 lakh from Mani which the latter declined. Upset over this, Tazimulla had quit the job,” police said.
On October 31, Tarun left home with Rs 2,000, saying he would purchase crackers from Hosur. Tazimulla told Tarun that he could get crackers at cheaper rates and took him to a relative’s house in Arekere and locked him inside a room.
The duo gagged Tarun’s hands and legs and draped adhesive tape on his mouth. By midnight, Tarun tried to free himself and the duo strangled him to death. They put his body in a gunny bag. Using Tarun’s mobile, they called Mani and demanded Rs 50 lakh. In the wee hours, they shifted the body to Tazimulla’s auto and dumped it near the drain,” police said.
