Bengaluru Police Solve Kidnap and Murder Case of 13-Year-Old Boy; Arrest Two Suspects After Encounter

August 1, 2025

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru police have cracked the case of a 13-year-old boy’s kidnapping and murder, arresting the two accused after an exchange of gunfire in which they were shot in the legs on Friday.

The victim, A. Nischal, an eighth-grade student, was found dead Thursday night on the outskirts of Bengaluru. He had been brutally assaulted and murdered, with the killers later setting his body on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Initial investigations indicate that the suspects knew both the boy and his family. They confessed to kidnapping Nischal for a ransom of Rs 5 lakh and later burning his body to cover their tracks.

The police identified the accused as Gurumurthy, 27, a resident of Weavers Colony on Bannerghatta Road, and Gopi, also 27, known as Gopala, a resident of Bannerghatta. Gurumurthy was shot in both legs, while Gopi was shot in one; both are currently hospitalized at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru.

Police officers Inspector Kumaraswamy B.G. and PSI Arvind Kumar, who were injured during the confrontation, are also receiving treatment at the same facility.

Further investigations revealed that the suspects were employed as drivers and had familiarity with the victim’s mother. Exploiting this knowledge, they targeted the boy for ransom. They sent a WhatsApp message demanding Rs 5 lakh and, after kidnapping him, eventually slaughtered him and set his body on fire to destroy evidence.

Nischal was a student at Christ School, regularly attending tuition classes from 5 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. on 80 Feet Road, Arakere. On July 30, he did not return home late, and when his parents contacted his tuition teacher, they were told he had left as usual.

During their search, the family found Nischal’s bicycle near Arakere Family Park. His father, J.C. Achyut, filed a missing person report at Hulimavu police station. Around 8 P.M. on July 31, they received a WhatsApp message informing them of his kidnapping and demanding Rs 5 lakh for his release.

In response, police formed four teams to investigate the case. At approximately 5 P.M., they discovered a partially burned body in a forested area in Bilwaradahalli within the limits of Bannerghatta police station. The body was identified as Nischal’s by his family.

Further efforts led officers to the suspects, who were hiding in the same forest. When police tried to arrest them, the suspects attacked with knives and daggers and attempted to flee. Officers fired warning shots into the air and ultimately shot the duo in the legs before arresting them.

The investigation is ongoing.