Three youth were arrested on Sunday in connection with the killing of 20-year-old engineering student Mumthazer.
The body of the victim, with his neck slashed, was found along the bank of the Veeracholan river at Tirubhuvanam near Kumbakonam on Saturday. The Thiruvidaimaruthur police launched a probe.
Based on detailed inquiry, the police arrested the victim’s friend Ijaz Ahmed, 19, an ITI student, and two others, both juveniles. All three hail from Thirubhuvanam.
Sources said Ijaz was in touch with a girl through Instagram for some time.
Mumthazer reportedly made friends with the same girl which angered Ijaz.
The former reportedly invited Mumthazer to a birthday party claiming that a surprise was in store for him.
When the victim went to the spot, the trio were waiting.
Ijaz allegedly blindfolded Mumthazer and slashed his neck.
As Mumthazer kept struggling, he was repeatedly assaulted and murdered.
To divert attention, the accused had called up the victim’s mother Mumtaz Begum to tell her that her son was in their custody, and allegedly demanded ₹5 lakh for his release, the police said.
On a complaint from Ms. Begum, the police arrested the trio and remanded them in judicial custody.
