Inspired by TV serial, Hyderabad man kidnaps and kills 12-year-old neighbour

In a cruel case of murder, a 12-year-old boy was allegedly killed by his neighbour in Hyderabad's Old City area, police said on Thursday. The body of Uroojuddin Ahmed, a madarsa student, was found in a lake in Mylardevpalli area.  Though the minor had gone missing last week, the crime came to light after the police took one Muneer, who was in his twenties, into custody on Thursday, who confessed to the crime. The body was recovered after the youth led the police to the scene. The police also recorded the statement of the accused. “During investigation, we questioned locals and came across neighbour Muneeruddin. The family of the boy had suspected Muneeruddin. We questioned him on Saturday and let him off,”  SI M Srinivas Rao told Deccan Chronicle. Later. the police also saw CCTV footage, which showed the victim on a two-wheeler along with another man. The bike was reportedly identified as belonging to Muneer. The DC report added that the accused fled to Mumbai after he was questioned. The accused also reportedly left a letter, blaming the police for 'humiliating' him in the colony, as they had picked him up in the patrol vehicle.  He later returned to Hyderabad this week.  The Times of India reported that the accused was a fan of the TV serial 'Crime Patrol', which is what gave him the idea of kidnapping his neighbour and demanding a ransom."The culprit planned to demand a ransom of Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh from the victim's family. However, Muneer developed cold feet to execute the ransom plan and killed the boy," the TOI report quoted the police as saying. The accused has been arrested and sent to judicial remand.  IANS