A 17-year-old boy was allegedly lured to his death with the promise of Rs 100 after being targeted as part of a purported plan to make Rs 2 crore by selling an organ, Madhya Pradesh Police said as they arrested five people, including three juveniles, in connection with the murder on Monday.

The incident took place earlier this month in state capital Bhopal with police saying though the accused had removed a body part of the victim after his death, they later discarded it in a lake after failing to find a buyer.

The teenager had gone missing from the Iqbal Maidan area in Bhopal on August 6; his body was recovered near Dhobighat at Chhota Talab four days later.

Police are investigating if the killing was part of a larger human organ-trafficking network.

According to police, the alleged conspiracy was planned by a man who posed as a doctor and befriended minors to help execute his plan.

A senior police officer said the alleged mastermind had met the accused juveniles about a month before the murder.

Promise to make Rs 2 crore

“He (the mastermind) presented himself as a doctor and would meet them (the juveniles) dressed like one. He showed them a video on his mobile phone and explained the plan to target a teenager. He then offered the lure of earning around Rs 2 crore, stating that a boy aged 15-16 was required,” the officer said.

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Police said after zeroing in on the victim, the juveniles told him that they would pay him Rs 100 if he went along with them to resolve a dispute with some boys near Khattapura.

The teenager allegedly agreed and was taken towards Chhota Talab. Police said two other accused subsequently joined them and the group travelled through Ginnouri and Kilol Park before reaching the Dhobighat area.

There, investigators allege, the teenager was killed and a body part was removed. Police suspect the accused intended to sell the organ but could not find a buyer after which they discarded it in the lake. “They removed the body part but when they were unable to sell it, they disposed of it,” DCP Ayush Gupta said.

The body part has not been recovered yet, and police teams are continuing searches, officials said.

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Police said the alleged conspirator remained in contact with the juveniles over the phone during the execution of the crime. Investigators are now examining call records, mobile phones and other evidence to establish the sequence of events and determine whether anyone else was involved.