9-Year-Old Child's Body Found With Portion Of Flesh Eaten Away, 2 Teenage Friends Arrested

The mutilated body of a 9-year-old child was found dumped in a field near railway tracks in India.

The authorities said Wednesday the child had been murdered. The victim, who has not been identified, had been missing for the last six days in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

A case of kidnapping had been registered at Hafizpur police station a day after his disappearance, The Times of India reported. The police said the boy was playing in his neighborhood with other children when he went missing.

"A portion of flesh was eaten away, most likely, by wild animals," Neeraj Jadaun, a senior police officer told The Times of India.

Two of his friends, aged 15 and 18, were taken into custody on suspicion of their involvement in the victim's disappearance. They later confessed to killing the 9-year-old boy following a dispute. The reason for the dispute was not known.

However, local media Jagran.com reported the two accused had forced the victim to drink alcohol [Google Translate showed]. It was also reported this was not the first time the two accused had misbehaved with the victim. The two accused allegedly strangled the 9-year-old boy to death.

Authorities said the victim's body was sent for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. A case has been registered against the two accused for kidnapping, and charges under sections of murder and causing disappearance of evidence under the Indian Penal Code is set to be added.

In April, a 16-year-old boy died after he was pushed into a well by his friends. The incident took place in the western city of Pune following an argument between the friends. Initially, the police thought the teenager's death was an accident, but later, a murder case was filed. A 21-year-old man, Rohit Kadam, was arrested in connection with the murder. The police said the victim had gone swimming with his two friends on the day of the incident. In the evening, his family was told the victim had fallen into a well and drowned. The victim's body was recovered from the well the next day.