Mangaluru: In an incident reported here at River Nandini in Soorinje, Suratkal, a youth drowned into the river under suspicious circumstances on 2rd October, Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Maqsood (25yrs), a resident of Krishnapura in Suratkal.

According to sources, Maqsood had gone to the river for a swim along with his friends on Tuesday evening. However, as he did not return home by night, his parents got worried and questioned the friends who had accompanied their son about his whereabouts.

But all four of his friends gave evasive replies and a missing complaint was filed at Suratkal police station. The police on Wednesday, took the four friends under custody for interrogation and sent a search team to locate Maqsood.

Initially, the cellphone and wrist watch of Maqsood were found on the river bank and by Wednesday noon, his dead body was recovered with help of expert divers from Tannirbavi.

Although the friends confessed that Maqsood had entered the river to swim and even though he was not familiar with the water draught and depth of the river and drowned. Maqsood’s parents swear that it is a clear case of planned murder.

A case stands registered and further investigations are being conducted.