RAWALPINDI, Sept 19: The body of a class-XII student kidnapped for ransom two days ago was found at a deserted place near Trait on Friday, police said.

Qazi Abdul Qadir went missing after he left his house for a tuition centre in Chaklala Scheme III on Wednesday. Sometime after midnight, the boy’s father received a phone call from the kidnappers who demanded Rs5 million ransom for the safe release of the student.

The kidnappers also threatened that Abdul Qadir would be killed if their demand was not met.

The body was found hours before the police arrested three of the victim’s friends, including a barber who confessed to the murder that was committed the same day Abdul Qadir was kidnapped.

According to the police, the culprits were traced through their cellphone. The Shalwar Kameez which the victim was wearing when he was abducted and a waistband used to strangle the boy had also been recovered by the police.

Meanwhile, the deceased was laid to rest in a local graveyard on Friday night. A large number of relatives, residents of the area and police officials attended the funeral prayers.

City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi Rao Mohammad Iqbal confirmed that the three boys had been arrested in connection with the murder.

Meanwhile, four persons snatched a car from its driver on Kashmir Highway on Friday night, police said.