Patna: A 25-year-old man, who was abducted near Patna Junction earlier this week, was found murdered on Saturday. His decomposed body was recovered from the Athmalgola police station area on the outskirts of the city. Police suspect he was brutally assaulted before being killed.The deceased, identified as Bunty Kumar of Jakkanpur, had been missing since Monday night. His body was found near the Fulailpur bypass in Barh subdivision, with the head and feet partially buried in the soil. The victim was wearing only a vest and had multiple injury marks.According to police, the advanced stage of decomposition suggested the body had been lying there for several days.Athmalgola SHO Rahul Kumar Navneet said family members were called to identify the body and they confirmed that it was of Bunty. However, ASP (law and order-I) Krishna Murari Prasad said scientific confirmation was awaited due to the condition of the remains. The body has been sent for post-mortem.According to the family, Bunty was allegedly abducted from Doodh Market in New Karbigahia near Patna Junction on Monday night while buying curd from a grocery shop. CCTV footage showing a group of men assaulting and forcing him into a black SUV later surfaced and became part of the investigation.The family lodged a kidnapping complaint at Kotwali police station the next day. As the investigation made little headway initially, relatives and local residents staged protests and a road blockade, accusing police of inaction. Police later detained a suspect in connection with the case.So far, three people have been arrested, including Rohit Kumar, who is accused of directly participating in the kidnapping, and Bajrangi and Ravi, brothers of the main accused. The alleged mastermind remains absconding.During the probe, investigators found that Bunty had been involved in a dispute with a group from the Jakkanpur area about two weeks before his abduction.The police are examining whether the earlier altercation was linked to the crime. They are also looking into the family’s allegation that Bunty had opposed activities linked to a sex racket in the area, leading to tensions with some individuals.
