Lucknow Teen Murder: Four Arrested for Social Media-Fueled Crime
In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves through Lucknow, a 16-year-old girl was brutally murdered allegedly by two men and their associates in the Para area of the city. The Uttar Pradesh Police have swiftly arrested all four accused individuals involved in this heinous crime that appears to have originated from social media interactions.
Arrests Made in the Case
The key accused identified by police are Anshu Gautam (20) and Aashiq Yadav (21), along with their associates Rishu Yadav (20) and Vaibhav Singh Rajput (23). All four have been taken into custody following a thorough investigation that utilized multiple sources of evidence.
Social Media Connection and Motive
According to police officials, the teenage victim had initially connected with both Anshu and Aashiq through various social media platforms. The relationships developed through extensive phone conversations that lasted for hours at a time. Investigators revealed that both young men believed the girl was romantically interested in them individually.
"Both Anshu and Aashiq believed the girl was in love with them. When they discovered that she was communicating with both of them simultaneously, they perceived this as a profound betrayal and made the extreme decision to eliminate her," explained a senior police officer involved in the investigation.
Chilling Details of the Crime
The tragic sequence of events unfolded on January 13 when the accused allegedly abducted the young girl. SHO Suresh Singh provided disturbing details about the murder: "The duo, with assistance from their associates, abducted the girl, strangled her inside an SUV, and then disposed of her body in a manner designed to make the murder appear as suicide."
DCP Vishwajeet Srivastava of the West Zone elaborated further on the abduction method: "Anshu lured the girl to a meeting point under false pretenses. When she arrived, he forcibly made her enter an SUV where three other individuals, including Aashiq, were already waiting. The group then murdered the girl while the vehicle was in motion."
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The case came to light when the girl's family filed a missing person complaint on January 16, prompting police to register a kidnapping case initially. The investigation gained momentum as authorities examined:
- Detailed phone records of all involved parties
- Extensive CCTV camera footage from multiple locations
- Forensic evidence from the crime scene
This comprehensive investigation led to the arrests of all four accused on January 26. Police have also seized the vehicle used in the abduction and murder.
Body Disposal and Additional Charges
After committing the murder inside the moving vehicle, the accused transported the victim's body approximately 12 kilometers from the abduction location to Sarojininagar, where they placed it on railway tracks in an attempt to stage the death as suicide.
As the murder came to light during the investigation, police added several serious charges against the accused, including:
- Section 140(1) - Kidnapping with intent to murder
- Section 103(1) - Murder
- Section 238 - Destroying evidence
- Section 3(5) - Common intention
The case highlights growing concerns about social media-related crimes and the vulnerability of young individuals to online predators. Lucknow police have assured the public that they are pursuing the case vigorously to ensure justice for the victim and her grieving family.
