In a deeply disturbing incident that has once again spotlighted the alarming descent of some minors into extreme criminality, two teenagers, aged just 14 and 16, were apprehended for the brutal murder of a 19-year-old youth, all for the sake of acquiring an iPhone to make better Instagram reels.
The victim, Shadab, a resident of Bengaluru, had returned to his ancestral village in Nagaur, Bahraich, to attend his maternal uncle’s wedding.
What should have been a joyous family occasion turned into a nightmare after Shadab went missing on June 21.
Hours later, his slashed throat and bludgeoned head were discovered near an abandoned tubewell in a remote guava orchard outside the village.
According to Additional Superintendent of Police Ramanand Prasad Kushwaha, the accused minors lured Shadab out on the night of June 20 under the pretext of making videos.
Once isolated, they slit his throat with a knife and smashed his skull with a brick, killing him in cold blood.
Their motive? To steal his iPhone — a tool they believed would help them produce “high-quality reels” and garner more likes and online attention.
Investigators later confirmed that the murder was premeditated, planned at least four days The accused had deliberately chosen Shadab because of his expensive phone.
Post the crime, the boys tried to flee, but were apprehended after a sustained investigation. The murder weapon, phone, and stone used in the killing were all recovered.
The case, registered under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 238 (evidence concealment) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), also includes two adult relatives who allegedly helped conceal the crime. One has been arrested and the other remains at large.
Both minors have since been sent to the Divisional Juvenile Reform Home in Gonda.
A Symptom of a Larger Crisis: When Juveniles Turn Killers
This chilling episode is not just a singular case of juvenile delinquency — it is a troubling reflection of a growing societal malaise, where young minds, heavily influenced by digital validation and peer pressure, begin to blur the lines between virtual approval and moral reality.
The obsession with online fame, especially through short-form video content, is becoming a dangerous motivator.
Children and teens are increasingly driven to desperation for gadgets, status, and viral visibility, even at the cost of human life.
The normalization of graphic content, peer glorification, and lack of parental supervision are turning a subset of impressionable youth into cold-blooded offenders.
What Can Be Done: Addressing Juvenile Criminality Proactively
To prevent such horrors from recurring, a multi-pronged approach is essential:
- Digital Literacy & Ethics in Schools
Curriculum must include media responsibility, empathy education, and digital boundaries. Children need to be taught the value of life over likes, and that online validation is not a substitute for self-worth. - Stricter Parental Monitoring
Parents and guardians need to actively engage in their children’s online lives, understand their digital circles, and detect early signs of obsessive or unhealthy behavior related to gadgets or social media. - Mental Health Support in Schools
Schools must provide access to trained counselors who can identify at-risk students and intervene before tendencies escalate into violent behaviour. - Juvenile Justice Reform
While minors must be handled differently from adult criminals, there is growing debate on whether hardened crimes committed with full awareness of consequences should be met with more stringent legal accountability, even for juveniles. - Community-Level Awareness Drives
Local administrations must partner with NGOs and social workers to run awareness campaigns, not just on child rights, but also on child responsibilities in the digital age.
This case is a wake-up call for India — a brutal reminder that crime no longer waits for adulthood. As access to smartphones grows and online culture becomes ever more pervasive, we must urgently rethink how we educate, monitor, and guide the moral compass of our youth before more lives are lost to a screen and a “like.”