Mandya: A 13-year-old student was found murdered with his throat slit in K.R. Pet this morning. The body was dumped inside a bush and it was noticed by some morning walkers near Government Employees Colony on the Hemagiri Road.

The boy has been identified as Shashank, a ninth standard student of Ashirwad English Medium School at Thegadahalli and he was the son of Sujatha, a teacher at Bommanahalli Government School. His father is an agriculturist.

The body was found at a short distance from the house.

According to the Police and family members, Shashank went to school yesterday morning and was found missing since afternoon. His family members frantically searched for him at his friends’ place and other areas till late in the night.

A few passers-by noticed the body near a bush today morning and alerted the K.R. Pet Police. Apart from slitting the throat, the killers had poured poisonous liquid into the boy’s mouth, Police said. Initial investigation points at old rivalry as the motive behind the murder, the Police added.