In a shocking incident that has gripped Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh, the 14-year-old son of a local cloth merchant was kidnapped and brutally murdered after his family failed to pay a hefty ransom demand. Police launched a swift investigation, leading to a dramatic encounter where the prime suspect was gunned down, while his accomplice was injured and hospitalized.
The tragedy unfolded on Thursday evening when Ayush Keserwani, returning from tuition, was playing with friends in the Bargad police station area. Suddenly, he was snatched away by unidentified men. Hours later, the kidnappers contacted the family, demanding Rs 40 lakh. The desperate relatives alerted authorities immediately.
Using CCTV footage and local intelligence, officers zeroed in on two suspects: Irfan and Akram alias Kallu, who ran a tin box shop nearby and hailed from Prayagraj’s Karma area. The next morning, Ayush’s body was discovered, throat slit and stuffed into a box in a bid to dispose of evidence. The gruesome find sparked outrage in Bargad town, with residents protesting outside the police station, forcing officers to disperse the crowd.
Special Operation Group teams intensified the manhunt. At dawn on Friday in the Puranu Baba forest, a fierce gun battle erupted. Akram, the main accused, was shot dead at the scene. Irfan sustained a leg injury and is under treatment. Police revealed a third accomplice remains at large, with searches ongoing.
Chitrakoot SP Arun Kumar Singh and ASP led the operation amid heightened tensions, including highway blockades by angry locals. Authorities urged calm as investigations continue, highlighting growing concerns over child safety in the region. The family mourns the irreplaceable loss, vowing justice.
