A 17-year-old boy was murdered by a gang in central India who shockingly removed his testicles to be sold on the black market, according to local police.
The suspects were understood to be influenced by a social media video, falsely claiming human testicles could draw a high price in overseas markets.
Police said the gang believed that by removing the boy’s testicles, they could fetch some 12 million Indian rupees – equivalent to almost £100,000.
Police have arrested the alleged ringleader, 20-year-old business student Zoheb Khan, and 18-year-old Aamir Qureshi.
Three young people under the age of 18 have also been detained in connection with the killing.
Investigators claim that Khan recruited the group, and claimed to have medical knowledge that would allow him to remove the organs.
Police said he had purchased a white apron, stethoscope and thermometer online, and used the items while allegedly training members of the group to do the same.
The victim, identified as Rehan, is reported to have worked as a street vendor selling pens and key chains at a market near Iqbal Maidan in Bhopal – the capital of Madhya Pradesh.
According to police, two minors approached him at his stall on August 6 and offered him 100 rupees to help with a fight near Khatlapura on Lower Lake.
It is understood the pair then persuaded him to follow them to a secluded location, where they then attacked Rehan from behind and stabbed him repeatedly with a blade.
Ayush Gupta, deputy commissioner of police in Bhopal, said four of the accused took part directly in the killing, while Khan guided them remotely during a video call.
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After the murder, the suspects removed Rehan’s testicles and stored them in ice for two days while attempting to locate a buyer.
When they were unable to sell the organs, Khan then instructed the gang to dispose of them in separate lakes, according to investigators.
Rehan’s body was later recovered from Lower Lake near Dhobi Ghat on August 10, where police identified him five days later using a tattoo, after his mother had reported him missing.
A post-mortem examination confirmed he had suffered fatal injuries, and that his testicles had been removed.
Police have recovered a knife believed to have been used in the killing, and have deployed divers to search the lakes for the missing organs.
Santosh Patel, Bhopal’s assistant commissioner of police, said the search would be challenging, and that investigators were relying partly on information from the suspects to establish where the organs had been discarded.
Investigators have also identified several people with which the group are believed to have contacted as potential buyers – now being questioned as police examine whether an attempted sale was actually planned.
The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to question the arrested suspects about the motive, planning and disposal of evidence.
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