In a tragic incident in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida, 19-year-old Mohammad Maz Pathan, along with a 15-year-old minor, was involved in the murder of 16-year-old Vaibhav Singhal. The confrontation that led to Vaibhav's death was over the refusal to delete a girl's photograph from a mobile phone. The crime culminated with Maz disposing of Vaibhav's body in the Khareli canal. The authorities apprehended Maz and his accomplice after an exchange of gunfire in the Dankaur area.

Vaibhav Singhal, who hailed from Bilaspur in the Dankaur region of Greater Noida, vanished from his home on January 29, prompting his worried father to report his disappearance to the local police station in Dankaur. Despite numerous efforts to find him, the search bore no fruit. The lack of progress in the case led to a public outcry, with Vaibhav's family and local merchants protesting on January 31 against what they perceived as a lack of action by the police in locating the missing teen.

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Aruj Singhal, a local trader and the distraught father of Vaibhav Singhal, filed a police report after his son mysteriously disappeared, and all efforts to find him proved futile. Despite a week of tireless searching and police initiatives, there was no sign of Vaibhav. It was only after authorities monitored his phone that they uncovered a horrifying truth: Vaibhav had been brutally murdered by two youths, who then callously disposed of his body in a canal.

The grief-stricken father recounted the chilling details, saying, "On January 30, my son left home around 7 pm without informing anyone. Despite calling him repeatedly and searching for him, we were unable to find him." An FIR was lodged at the Dankaur police station against unknown individuals for kidnapping, marking the beginning of a somber quest for justice.

The breakthrough came when police, acting on a tip-off, identified the perpetrators as 19-year-old Maz Pathan and a 15-year-old accomplice, Ayan Khan. The investigation revealed a shocking motive behind the crime: Maz Pathan, who knew Vaibhav, became enraged over photos of a girl on Vaibhav's phone, whom Maz claimed as his girlfriend. Maz's demands for Vaibhav to delete the photos were defiantly refused, leading to a deadly confrontation. Maz lured Vaibhav to a secluded spot, where he and Ayan committed the unthinkable act of murder, erasing any trace of Vaibhav by discarding his body in the obscurity of the canal.

Following a tense standoff, authorities apprehended the two suspects responsible for the tragic death of Vaibhav Singhal. The capture came after law enforcement utilized electronic surveillance and received vital tips pointing to the suspects' location along the Dhanauri to Sakka road in Noida. When police spotted the duo on a motorcycle and attempted to stop them, a dramatic chase ensued, with the suspects fleeing into a nearby field. The situation escalated when one of the suspects opened fire on the officers.

In the ensuing exchange, the police managed to subdue and arrest both individuals, during which Maz Pathan sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. Among the evidence recovered was Vaibhav Singhal's iPhone, found in the possession of the accused, alongside a locally manufactured firearm. Both suspects confessed to the murder, with Maz Pathan admitting during the interrogation that they had strangled Vaibhav to death on January 30. Efforts are now underway to locate Vaibhav's body.

Further investigations revealed a cunning attempt by the accused to mislead the investigation by posting deceptive messages on Singhal’s social media profiles. This attempt to throw investigators off their trail was ultimately foiled when the truth emerged during questioning. Maz Pathan is currently under medical care for his injuries, while the juvenile involved in the case is set to face the Juvenile Justice Board.

SM Khan, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Greater Noida, shared that a crucial tip-off regarding the involvement of the victim's acquaintances in his disappearance led to a breakthrough. He stated, "On the basis of manual surveillance and intelligence, a local police team identified the suspects as 19-year-old Maz Pathan, a resident of Bilaspur, and a minor boy, whose name is being withheld to protect his identity. They were spotted near Sakka village and when asked to stop, but they tried to run and Maz fired at the police. In retaliation, he was shot in the leg by the personnel and taken into custody. The minor suspect was also nabbed."

Contrary to widespread media coverage suggesting the murder stemmed from a dispute over photographs, an investigative report by NeoPolitico challenges this narrative. According to Vaibhav’s father, Aruj Singhal, the real motive was linked to Vaibhav's affiliation with the Bajrang Dal and his activities on social media. Aruj disclosed, "On January 22, following the Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya Shri Ram Mandir, Vaibhav put up a status regarding the Shri Ram Yatra. The accused replied to the post with a poster of Babri and Sar Tan Se Juda (STSJ) threats. 'The poster contains an Urdu caption which says Allah is with those who are brave. Have patience when our time will come; heads will be severed from bodies,' notes NeoPolitico."

Aruj further recounted how the accused had befriended Vaibhav just days before his kidnapping, raising suspicions about their intentions. The Singhal family has also voiced concerns over the police's apparent disregard for their fears that Vaibhav could be targeted by Muslims, a worry they say was dismissed by authorities who believed such incidents were not plausible under the current government. A video featuring Vaibhav's mother, Shalini, and his sisters, Tanya, Harsha, and Riya, has surfaced, showcasing their frustration with the police's response to their urgent appeals for action.

The arrest of the two suspects linked to Vaibhav Singhal's murder came in the wake of protests by local traders, demanding action. Upon their capture, the suspects admitted to the heinous act of killing Vaibhav and then discarding his body in the Kherli canal. Items belonging to the victim, such as his slippers and clothing, were found, with divers currently engaged in the grim search for his remains.

Ashok Kumar, the Additional DCP of Greater Noida, shared insights into the conflict leading up to the tragic event. He explained, "The juvenile managed to escape but was later held during a combing operation. The victim’s phone was recovered from his possession. During the investigation, the two confessed to killing him by strangulating him and then dumping his body into the Khareli canal."

Kumar further noted the ongoing efforts to locate Vaibhav's body, stating, "Divers are searching the canal for the body. Vaibhav Singhal’s iPhone was recovered from the suspects, along with a countrymade gun. Maz has been admitted to a hospital for treatment while the minor suspect will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board."

After a painstaking search that lasted 13 days, the Uttar Pradesh Police finally discovered the body of Vaibhav Singhal. Vaibhav's remains were located in the Khareli canal near Hinoti village, a significant distance from where he was initially reported missing.

The discovery of Vaibhav's body, 20km away from the crime scene, occurred on a Sunday afternoon, following his disappearance. The body has since been transported for a postmortem examination to ascertain further details of his demise.

Sarthak Sengar, ACP-3 of Greater Noida, reported on the recovery, stating, "Around 1pm on Sunday, the body of Vaibhav Singhal, a resident of Dankaur, was found in the canal, around 20km away from the spot the accused had confessed to dumping his body." He further elaborated on the circumstances leading to the recovery: "We suspect that the body was trapped under the canal. However, when water was discharged from a dam in Hapur, the increased flow resulted in the body surfacing, allowing for its recovery."

Vaibhav Singhal's life was tragically cut short as a result of celebrating an event on January 22, with Mohammad Maaj and Mohd Ayan identified as responsible for his demise. This devastating act led to the loss of a cherished son, leaving a family to mourn their irreplaceable loss in Gautam Buddha Nagar.

In response to the grim discovery, an extensive search operation was launched by the police, involving five teams, including members from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). This meticulous search spanned various canals and waterways across multiple districts such as Bulandshahr, Mathura, Agra, Aligarh, among others. The search ultimately led to the identification and recovery of Vaibhav's body, which was then subjected to preliminary examinations before being sent for a post-mortem analysis.

The community of Bilaspur responded with a profound demonstration of solidarity, shutting down markets to demand justice for Vaibhav. Over several days, police, NDRF, and PAC divers tirelessly scoured the canal where the accused had discarded Vaibhav's body.

The discovery of his remains brought his family to a state of inconsolable grief. Following the post-mortem, Vaibhav's family conducted his final rites amidst a somber atmosphere, their sorrow palpable. The funeral procession saw the participation of MP Dr. Mahesh Sharma and thousands of community members, alongside a significant police presence, including Joint Commissioner Shiv Hari Meena and Black Commandos, underscoring the community's collective mourning and demand for justice.