LAHORE: Police claimed on Monday to have traced blind murder of an eight-year-old boy and arrested two of his friends who had killed him over a trifle.

Registered with Kahna police, the case was traced by Nishtar Colony police after the body dumped in a pond surfaced when water flow increased.

The suspects were identified as Ali Sher (8) and his friend Zaid (10), both residents of Baddu Village.

Nishtar Colony Station House Officer (SHO) Abdul Wahid told Dawn that both had killed their fellow Mobeen and dumped his body in a pond.

The SHO said the children were inspired by crime thrillers.

The children were friends and used to play in streets, he said adding that on April 6 the suspected killers exchanged hot words with Mobeen.

Mobeen went missing the same day and his parents lodged a report with the Kahna police after failure to find him.

Meanwhile, both the suspects pretended to be unaware of the incident, the SHO said adding that on April 16 locals spotted a body of the minor boy in a pond. During investigation, the Nisthar Colony police traced the case through a police constable residing in the same village and alerted the senior officials.

Consequently, the police arrested both the kids who later unveiled the story saying that they had killed Mobeen with bricks following a minor dispute.

Mr Wahid said the criminal activities by juveniles was a matter of serious concern which can only be addressed largely by their parents.

To a question, the Nishtar Colony SHO said parents of all the children hailed from lower strata of society.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2021