Odisha: Jharsuguda Boy Kidnap-Murder Accused Attempts Suicide In Police Remand

Jharsuguda: In a new development in the kidnap-murder of minor boy Samarth Agarwal for Rs 50 lakh ransom, one of the accused, Amit Sharma allegedly attempted suicide while in police custody in Odisha’s Jharsuguda on Tuesday.

According to preliminary information, Sharma allegedly slit his wrist and other body parts with a piece of glass he got by smashing a mirror in the washroom of the reserve battalion.

The accused, who is now on a three-day police remand, was taken to the reserve battalion for interrogation in connection with the kidnap and murder of the Class X student and today was the last day of his remand period.

Sharma was rescued and immediately rushed to the hospital by police personnel for treatment.

It may be police two accused, Amit Kumar Sharma of Jharsuguda and Dinesh Kumar Agarwal of Brajrajnagar, had been arrested by the police in connection with the kidnap and murder.

The two were arrested on March 29 on the basis of CCTV footage near the apartment of the deceased at Saharabahal. Sharma persuaded Samarth to accompany him to Brajarajnagar, 15 km away, to the house of his employee Dinesh. He was then seen pillion-riding with the deceased. They left the boy’s scooter at Amit’s house and proceeded towards Bargarh in a car.

Amit and Dinesh had made ransom calls of Rs 50 lakh to Samarth’s father Sunit Agarwal, who owns a motor parts shop, first on March 27 evening and again of Rs 90 lakh the following evening. Even as they are preparing to pay the ransom, Samarth’s charred body was found on a river side in Bargarh district on March 28.

Amit and Sunit stayed in the same locality till a couple of years ago before the Agarwal family moved to a new colony. Amit’s daughter used to tie Rakhi to the deceased and both studied in the same school, sources added.