Chhattisgarh Horror: Missing teen found murdered by friend over mobile gaming row, body dumped at old school building

RAIPUR: What began as a frantic 15-day search of a missing teenager in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh, ended in a chilling revelation that the 13-year-old boy was brutally murdered by his own friend, all because of a dispute over a mobile phone used for playing online games.The deceased boy Chinmay Suryavanshi, a Class 8 student from Bharari village, had gone missing on the evening of July 31. The search ended tragically on Friday when the residents complained of a foul stench near village’s old, abandoned school building and Chinmay’s decomposed body was recovered inside a classroom. When they investigated, they discovered Chinmay’s decomposed body inside a locked classroom.Police rushed to the scene with forensic experts and a dog squad.

“The body was in a highly decomposed state. We have sent it for postmortem examination,” said investigating officer Naresh Chouhan of Ratanpur police station.According to statement of parents of the deceased boy, he left home around 4:30 pm but never returned. His disappearance left the family in agony and the village on edge.For the past two weeks, Chinmay’s parents and relatives searched frantically. They visited neighbours, checked with relatives, and got a missing report lodged.

Growing desperate, they printed pamphlets with the boy’s photo and announced a Rs one lakh cash reward for anyone providing information that could lead to his safe return.His father, Ajay Suryavanshi, said they had feared foul play from the beginning. “We suspected someone had lured him away. We felt completely helpless after routine follow-up with police and getting no lead,” he told reporters.Police said that the investigation revealed shocking details after detaining Chhatrapal Suryavanshi, 19, over suspicion as he was from the same village and a close acquaintance of Chinmay.

During interrogation, he broke down and confessed.He admitted that they both were too much into mobile gaming, but Chhatrapal’s parents had recently confiscated his phone. When he asked Chinmay for his device to continue playing, Chinmay refused. Enraged, Chhatrapal allegedly strangled him to death and dragged the body to the deserted school building, where he locked it away to conceal the crime.“Interrogation has confirmed that the murder took place over a dispute involving a mobile phone.

The victim’s handset has also been recovered from the accused and he was arrested,” said Bilaspur additional SP Archana Jha.The finding has sent out shocking wave in the village and residents are horrified to learn that a teen resorted to murdering a minor over a petty issue.The building where Chinmay’s body was recovered had been lying unused for the past 10 months. A new school structure was constructed in the village last year, and classes were shifted there. The old premises, left vacant and unguarded, turned into a silent witness to the crime.