CHAKWAL: The body of a 13-year-old boy, who went missing on Jan 5 in Bangwala village, was found in a well on Saturday evening, police and Rescue 1122 said.

“The body was wrapped in a quilt and then stuffed into a gunny sack,” an official at the Dohman police station told Dawn. He said it seemed the body had been thrown into the well many days ago.

Dur Addan Haider, a student of 8th grade, went to a nearby market and disappeared.

“I went to the police station and reported the matter but the police did not take the incident seriously,” said Ambreen, the mother of the boy. “Police kept on telling us that my son might have gone somewhere on his own and would return soon,” she claimed.

The police registered a case on Jan 20.

An unknown person called on different numbers owned by the relatives of the missing boy and demanded Rs135,000. “The caller told us that the boy was kidnapped by unknown kidnappers and sold to drug peddlers for Rs125,000,” one of the boy’s relatives who also received the call told Dawn. He said the caller demanded Rs135,000 promising to recover the boy from drug dealers.

“We put the money at the place suggested by the caller who then asked us to go to Mianwali where the boy would be handed over to us. We reached Mianwali and tried to call the unknown caller but his phone was switched off. He also did not pick the money,” he added.

However, police have not yet traced the caller. “That caller looked a fraudster who after seeing an advertisement placed on Facebook abot the missing boy called on the given numbers to mint money,” a police official said, adding they would trace the caller soon.

“There were no torture marks on the body but the actual cause of death would be ascertained after forensic report.

“We have sent samples to Lahore for a forensic examination and would trace the killers through DNA,” the official said.

The deceased’s mother said they did not have any enmity with anyone. “I have been separated from my husband nine years ago and he is now in jail as he could not pay the maintenance,” she added.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2021