A 19-year old engineering college student, who was allegedly kidnapped for a ransom of 5 lakh, was found dead near Thirubhuvanam near Kumbakonam on January 5, police said.

Munthazir, a second year student of a private college, had told his mother that he was going to visit his sister, police said. A few hours later, the alleged kidnapper called the victim’s mother and told her that her son had been abducted and demanded 5 lakh to release him, the police added.

Muthazir’s mother lodged a complaint following which police tried to contact the boy, but found his phone switched off. On the morning of January 5, the student was found dead with his throat slit near a channel in nearby Thirubhuvanam.