CHANDITALA (HOOGHLY) : An 11-year-old boy who had gone missing from his Chikrand Jalapara neighbourhood in Chanditala some days back, was found murdered near his house on Sunday. The accused, a neighbour of the boy, has gone into hiding.

The victim, Suvojit Haldar, was a Class-VII student of Janai Training School. On February 26, he returned home from his tuition classes and he was roaming about in the neighbourhood after his tuitions when he went missing following which his father Gokul Haldar, a grocery shop owner, lodged a missing diary.

Gokul got a ransom call the next day from a number which was identified as that of his neighbour Uttam Biswas. Biswas reportedly demanded Rs 4 crore for Suvojit's release. Gokul was threatened with dire consequences if he dared to lodge a complaint with police.

When Gokul told police of the call, they tried to track Biswas' cell phone, but to no avail.

He immediately went to the police station and informed cops about the ransom call from Biswas.

Police assured Suvojit's parents that their son would be rescued. But despite repeated attempts, Biswas' phone number could not be tracked.

On Sunday, some children at Chikrand Jalapara saw a hand jutting out of a sack and raised an alarm. Locals rushed to find Suvojit's decomposed body in it. His parents were also called to identify the body. Suvojit's mother turned unconscious at the spot after she saw the body.

Biswas was, however, nowhere to be found triggering protests from locals who went on a rampage at his house.

Even after the recovery of the body, Uttam Biswas could not be traced. Angry mob went on rampage at his home. Police said Biswas is a vagabond and he had an eye on Gokul's wealth.

Police said land rates had escalated in the area after a proposed cement factory and many of the plots are being sold off. Biswas was under the impression that Gokul had sold his land for Rs 4 crore and hence decided to abduct Suvojit, police said. He killed the boy when his plans went for a toss.

But when police intervened, his plan went for a toss. He then murdered Suvojit and went into hiding, added police officials.

Because of the proposed setting up of cement factory at Chanditala, a lot of land changes hand. Uttam had an idea that by selling his land, Gokul amassed a huge amount of money, more tha Rs 4 crore.

So he planned to abduct Suvojit to ger Rs 4 crore as ransom. But police intervention upset Uttam's plan. He then killed Suvojit and left the city.

