14 September,2010 09:04 AM IST | | Salil Urunkar
Investigations in the kidnapping and murder of an 11-year-old boy have revealed that his cousins had hatched the conspiracy to demand ransom from his father and claim a part of the family property.
Vinayak Vitthal Gaikwad (11) from Vinzar village in Velha taluka - about 50 kms from Pune - was found murdered on Sunday on the banks of a rivulet after he was kidnapped on Saturday.
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The Velha police have arrested Bharat Parshuram Bhise (24), the prime accused in the conspiracy, Popat Gaikwad and Dinkar Gaikwad.
Vitthal Gaikwad, father of the boy, had registered a complaint in the police station on Saturday evening.
"Vinayak was the only son of Vitthal Gaikwad.
His cousins planned to grab his property besides demanding a ransom of Rs 2 lakh," said Police Inspector Rangnath Unde from Velha police station.
"After Vinayak went missing on Saturday evening, his family received calls for a ransom of Rs 2 lakh.
Bhise, who was given the supari to kill the boy, had called Vinayak's father Vitthal to the Pune-Satara road on Saturday evening but did not turn up."
The officer said Vitthal Gaikwad then approached the police and filed the complaint. "Bhise, who drives a rickshaw in the city, first murdered Vinayak and later made extortion calls.
Bhise strangled Vinayak and smashed his face," Unde said. "Bhise, who lives in Gaikwad's neighbourhood, was absconding since Vinayak's missing complaint.
His father Parshuram also tried to flee the village but was intercepted on the Pune-Satara highway and handed over to police. He gave Bhise's location and the police nabbed him."
