Lucknow: The disappearance of an 18-year-old youth from Saadatganj has turned into a murder probe after police alleged he was left to die following a motorcycle crash in neighbouring Barabanki by people known to him.Saadatganj police on Tuesday arrested Muskan alias Syed Afreen, 21, a bar dancer, and her husband Sumit Gupta alias Golu, 26, a milk seller, in connection with the death of Mohammad Saif. A 17-year-old juvenile has also been taken into protective custody under provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.Saif was reported missing on June 17 after he failed to return home. Investigators said technical surveillance, including call detail records and location tracking, helped identify those who were last in contact with him and led police to the group he was travelling with.Police said their inquiry found that Saif and the juvenile rode a motorcycle to Barabanki on June 15 and met with an accident near Hind Medical College. Muskan and Sumit, travelling separately, were allegedly present at the spot when the crash occurred.According to police, the accused did not arrange medical help or inform Saif’s family and instead fled, leaving him critically injured. Barabanki police later shifted the injured youth to a hospital, where he died.After the unidentified accident victim was linked to the missing-person report, Lucknow police registered a murder case. Investigators are examining whether the incident was connected to an alleged relationship between Saif and Muskan and are probing a possible conspiracy angle.
