A horrifying case of revenge and gang rivalry has emerged in Delhi’s Outer North district. A 14-year-old boy was abducted, sexually assaulted, filmed and stabbed 24 times. The body of the minor was dumped in the Munak Canal following the assault. The crime, which took place on the intervening night of June 29 and 30, came to light on July 1. The police recovered the partially decomposed, naked body of the victim with a scarf tied around his neck.

Meanwhile, the police on Friday confirmed that the post-mortem report revealed gruesome injuries on the minor. The report revealed not only multiple stab injuries but also blunt force trauma to the boy’s private parts, confirming sexual assault. The case has since seen swift arrests, with ten accused already in custody and a manhunt underway for others.

“The post-mortem reports revealed that there were 24 stab wounds on his body, a senior officer said. The reports also mentioned “blunt force in the anus”, which confirmed that the boy was sexually assaulted, too, he said.

Main Accused Sought Revenge

Police investigations revealed that Krishna alias Bhola, 19, allegedly masterminded the murder. Krishna had reportedly been attacked by members of the Badhwar gang, known criminals currently imprisoned under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Believing the 14-year-old victim was an informant for the Badhwar brothers, Krishna recruited 12 accomplices. Many of the recruiters were minors to execute a revenge attack.

“We were able to track one of the minors through his social media activity. From Haridwar, three accused, identified as Monu and two minors, had come to Meerut in the Kanwar Yatra. They were staying in the Kanwar camp in Meerut,” the officer added.

“The accused planned the murder carefully and carried it out with disturbing precision,” said Hareshwar Swami, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North). “The boy was abducted, tortured, and ultimately killed in a brutal manner.”

Abduction in Public, Murder in Seclusion

On the night of the crime, the boy was intercepted near Veer Chowk Bazar by the group, forcibly taken away on a motorcycle, and driven to a remote stretch near the Munak Canal. There, he was stripped of his clothes, sexually assaulted, and stabbed multiple times before being left to die. His body was thrown into the canal shortly after.

Tattoo markings and physical characteristics helped police confirm his identity later the same day. A murder case under Sections 103(1) and 238(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered, and a specialized team launched an extensive manhunt.

Accused Arrested in Disguise

In a dramatic turn, police tracked three absconding accused, one adult and two minors, to a Kanwar Yatra camp in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on July 18. Officers, disguised as kanwariyas, infiltrated the religious gathering to avoid raising suspicion and successfully apprehended the suspects.

The DCP added, “Plotting revenge for months, Krishna, his brother and other friends executed the plan on the intervening night of June 29-30. They abducted the juvenile from near Veer Chowk Bazar, assaulted him and took him on a motorcycle to the Munak Canal.”

A mobile phone containing a video recording of the assault was recovered during the arrest. Police believe the video may serve as critical evidence in court. “The footage was graphic and disturbing, but it leaves no doubt about the involvement of the accused,” an officer familiar with the case said. “We nabbed them on the night of July 18 with the help of the local police and a team that was dispatched from Delhi,” police added.

More Accused Identified, Legal Strategy Underway

Following interrogations, the accused reportedly confessed to their roles and named additional accomplices, identified as Deepak, Chandan, and Sachin, who are currently on the run. Authorities are working with legal experts to ensure the harshest possible sentencing, particularly for those aged 16 and above.

“Given the calculated and heinous nature of the crime, we are moving the court to allow those above 16 to be tried as adults,” DCP Swami said. “This was not a spontaneous act. It was planned, executed, and recorded.”

Badhwar Brothers Link to Crime

The murder has brought renewed attention to organized juvenile crime in the capital. The victim was allegedly targeted for his suspected links to the Badhwar brothers, Monu and Sonu, who are currently in jail under MCOCA for crimes including armed robbery and illegal liquor smuggling.

Police say the murder was an act of retribution, further complicating the web of inter-gang rivalries involving minors. The incident also raises urgent concerns about how easily children are being pulled into violent criminal networks.

Family Demands Justice, Public Outrage Grows

The victim’s family, devastated by the nature of the crime, is calling for maximum punishment. “He was just a child,” a relative said. “Those who did this must never see daylight again.”

The case has sparked outrage among civil society and child protection groups, who are demanding systemic reforms, harsher penalties, and intervention programs to keep vulnerable youth away from gang violence.

Ongoing Investigation

Police teams remain deployed across Delhi and neighboring states in pursuit of the remaining accused. Authorities have assured the public that no effort will be spared in bringing all perpetrators to justice.

“This case will be pursued with zero tolerance,” said a senior officer. “We owe it to the victim and his family to ensure that such brutality does not go unpunished.”